The Weekend Food Odyssey: Perceptions of Accessibility to Urban Food Outlets

Food acquisition patterns and perceptions remain insufficiently understood when examining the ways urban built environments impact food access. Using surveys (N = 751) and interviews (N = 14) we argue there is a fundamental mismatch between the dominant food access narrative, which assumes proximity is the most salient factor in acquisition, and lived-experiences. Results reveal individuals' perceptions regarding food access differ based on their experiences. While close-ended responses indicated few transportation barriers, open-ended responses indicated multiple challenges in accessing food. Results highlight relationships between conceptions of distance and access. Findings have implications for measurement approaches and the need for lived-experiences to inform interventions.

Automated summary

Through surveys and interviews, research found that individuals' perceptions of food access are influenced by their experiences, and there is a relationship between the sense of distance and access. Open-ended responses revealed multiple challenges in accessing food, which were not reflected in closed-ended responses.