Quality of Life Indicators

access to healthy foods -- new 6/12/11

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The physical infrastructure and environment matter to resident’s health, as well as the economy.  The greater the access to healthy foods, the more likely people will make healthy choices.  The 2010, County Health Rankings defined access to healthy foods based on the percentage of Zip codes in a county with a grocery store with more than 4-employees or a produce stand/farmer’s market (as defined by NAICS codes);  the 2011 rankings were based on the percentage of residential Zip codes with a healthy food outlet.  The data is from the US Census Bureau’s Zip Code Business Partners.

Washoe County is developing a planning framework for food system policy design within the Truckee Meadows Regional Plan, to ensure residents have access to affordable, available and appetizing healthful food, with the target of overall community health.  A food system includes all processes and infrastructure involved in feeding the community (growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting, marketing and the consumption of food–related items. Future data collection and tracking will be required.  The draft documents cites 6-community gardens and 14-school gardens currently in Washoe County.  The number of farmers markets has increased to 9-sites in the Reno/Sparks area in 2010.  There are 6-Community Supported Agriculture providers (locally grown or raised) and 115-local growers supplying the county.

Not having transportation, or even a driver's license, limits access to healthy foods.  The USDA, Economic Research Service, Food Atlas, cites 1.1% of Washoe County households without a car and more than 1-mile to a grocery store in 2006;  and 5.6% low-income the same distance.

pedestrian & bicycle friendliness -- updated 5/31/11

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Bikeways and sidewalks add to a healthy lifestyle while reducing neighborhood congestion, improving air quality and energy conservation, not to mention fuel cost savings. The Rails-toTrails, Active Transportation for America, 2008 study found that that more than half of current car-trips could be completed within a 20-minute bicycle ride, and 25% of trips within a 20-minute walk. The Brookings-Rockefeller "Next Economy" project reported17.5% of Reno-Sparks commuters via modes other than driving alone, 2005-2009.

According to the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan, sidewalks are part of the design standards for roadways built using the Regional Road Impact Fee Program (RRIF). Pedestrian travel is an important part of the total travel in Washoe County and is particularly important in the Central Business Districts (CBD’s) of Reno and Sparks. While the volume of pedestrian travel is much lower in the suburban and rural portions of Washoe County, it is still an important mode of travel, particularly for children going to and from school and recreation facilities. In addition to transit, the short-range RTIP includes bicycle and pedestrian projects. RTC works in cooperation with local governments to determine pedestrian networks near public-transit, with safety being a key component. Pedestrian access to public transit from daily living activity areas (food stores, healthcare, schools, shopping areas, etc.) are also important. Uniform standards and policies for location and installation of sidewalks must be adopted by local governments by 2013. RTC has also implemented the complete road or “road diet” concept to reduce the number of traffic lanes to a three-lane configuration, with a center turn lane, plus bicycle and parking lanes. Improved visibility increases safety for drivers, bicyclist and pedestrians.

A Reno/Sparks Regional Bikeway Master Plan is also underway to map all regional bikeways and sidewalks, in order to develop consistent design standards and secure funding for proposed projects. The RTC review process for 2040 is recommending a combined bicycle and pedestrian modal split will be 8% by 2013, 9% by 2018, 11% for 2030, and 12% by 2040; 60% of the bicycle master plan will be completed by 2013, including uniform policies and standards for the location and installation of sidewalks in the region adopted by local government. Additional enhancements include ensuring that bicycle parking is adequate to promote use at transit stations and transfer facilities. Currently all RTC Ride buses have a bicycle rack.

The Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance encourages everyone to bicycle to work or school. Over 700 people registered to bike to work in May 2006, and over 950 people in May 2010.

What might help increase the number of people bicycling and walking:

• Employee wellness program incentives and rider safety programs
• Employer locker-rooms, showers or other changing facilities
• Bicycle rental infrastructure and sharing programs
• Hotel bike rentals
• Bike storage lockers and more bike parking/racks
• Organized bicycle rides for youth
• System of multi-use trails that access high use recreational facilities

Truckee Meadows Bicycle Map and for help with your bicycle from the Reno Bike Project.

acres of parklands -- updated 2/29/12

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The Truckee Meadows Regional Plan, adopted July 2007 and last amended August 2010, promotes an integrated open space and greenways network linked to parks, bike- and pedestrian-ways, trails and neighborhood facilities. According to documents prepared for the City of Reno’s open space planning efforts several years ago, the National Recreation Planning Association recommends a total of 6.25 to 10.50 acres of parkland be available for every 1,000 residents. Development acres dedicated for parks on an ongoing basis are needed to maintain adequate parklands. Augmenting the neighborhood-community parkland inventory are small parks, special purpose parks, public golf courses, undeveloped parkland, and open space. These lands provide recreational opportunities, contribute our outdoor experience and quality of life, and should be recognized in park planning. They do not, however, provide unlimited public use and access, nor do they always offer the traditional amenities of a neighborhood and community park. They are therefore handled separately in the inventory.

Additional information can also be found in the City of Reno, Open Space & Greenways Plan, March 2007.

Active Living Research, November 2011 article on active living and childhood obesity—where you live makes a difference.

City of Reno—open space planning