Westerville, Ohio is a suburb of Columbus and is located northeast of the downtown area. There is no public transportation in the suburb, forcing most travel to be done by car. There are sidewalks and bike paths for pedestrian movement, but not all are well lit. Most transportation for food access is done with cars. Traffic is mostly light, and with access to a car, food is never far away. The area is very safe with low crime rates. The safe, accessible area allows for food to be obtained easily, while the inclusion of public transportation would improve access even more.
Families access healthy food at one of the large grocery stores in the area. Most families use cars to travel to and from these stores and therefore only go a few times a week. Westerville can be categorized as food secure, with multiple grocery stores within a short drive of residents. These grocery stores have healthy options that are affordable and assessable.
There is an abundance of restaurants along the main corridor, creating a food swamp. There are many choices for unhealthy fast foods, but are some healthier restaurants as well. Regardless, there are many food options one can access with a car. The abundance of convenient high calorie options encourages citizens to eat unhealthy foods instead of healthy options available at local grocery stores.
Having better public transportation or transit options other than cars will give food access to more individuals. Providing more healthy and convenient food establishments will help reduce the food swamp present in the area. The city environment is planned out well and allows safe access to food sources in the area. Overall, Westerville has good food systems in place and is successful in providing healthy food to citizens.
