Cycling for transport and public health: a systematic review of the effect of the environment on cycling
Cycling for transport and public health: a systematic review of the effect of the environment on cycling
Background: active transport policies are being developed across Europe designed to have health and environmental benefits. There is little evidence of impact on physical activity of active transport strategies which modify the built environment. Cycling represents one virtually carbon-neutral form of transport that can help to address declining levels of exercise.
Methods: a systematic literature review of experimental or observational studies that objectively evaluated the effect of the built environment on cycling.
Results: a total of 21 studies met the inclusion criteria, all of which were observational studies. Eleven studies identified objectively measured environmental factors with a significant positive association with cycling. The environmental factors identified as being positively associated with cycling included presence of dedicated cycle routes or paths, separation of cycling from other traffic, high population density, short trip distance, proximity of a cycle path or green space and for children projects promoting ‘safe routes to school’. Negative environmental factors were perceived and objective traffic danger, long trip distance, steep inclines and distance from cycle paths. Of the seven studies which focused primarily on the impact of cycle routes, four demonstrated a statistically significant positive association.
Conclusion: although the study identified environmental factors with positive and negative associations with cycling behaviour, many other types of environmental policies and interventions have yet to be rigorously evaluated. Policies promoting cycle lane construction appear promising but the socio-demographic distribution of their effects on physical activity is unclear. The wider impact of active transport policies on health and inequalities across Europe must be explored
738-743
Fraser, S.
135884b6-8737-4e8a-a98c-5d803ac7a2dc
Lock, K
a382152e-a7a5-4bd1-813b-768425dcf909
6 October 2010
Fraser, S.
135884b6-8737-4e8a-a98c-5d803ac7a2dc
Lock, K
a382152e-a7a5-4bd1-813b-768425dcf909
Fraser, S. and Lock, K
(2010)
Cycling for transport and public health: a systematic review of the effect of the environment on cycling.
European Journal of Public Health, 21 (6), .
(doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckq145).
Abstract
Background: active transport policies are being developed across Europe designed to have health and environmental benefits. There is little evidence of impact on physical activity of active transport strategies which modify the built environment. Cycling represents one virtually carbon-neutral form of transport that can help to address declining levels of exercise.
Methods: a systematic literature review of experimental or observational studies that objectively evaluated the effect of the built environment on cycling.
Results: a total of 21 studies met the inclusion criteria, all of which were observational studies. Eleven studies identified objectively measured environmental factors with a significant positive association with cycling. The environmental factors identified as being positively associated with cycling included presence of dedicated cycle routes or paths, separation of cycling from other traffic, high population density, short trip distance, proximity of a cycle path or green space and for children projects promoting ‘safe routes to school’. Negative environmental factors were perceived and objective traffic danger, long trip distance, steep inclines and distance from cycle paths. Of the seven studies which focused primarily on the impact of cycle routes, four demonstrated a statistically significant positive association.
Conclusion: although the study identified environmental factors with positive and negative associations with cycling behaviour, many other types of environmental policies and interventions have yet to be rigorously evaluated. Policies promoting cycle lane construction appear promising but the socio-demographic distribution of their effects on physical activity is unclear. The wider impact of active transport policies on health and inequalities across Europe must be explored
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Published date: 6 October 2010
Organisations:
Primary Care & Population Sciences
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Local EPrints ID: 368283
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/368283
ISSN: 1101-1262
PURE UUID: dc89c84c-c6e3-4158-9406-abbdeba917f5
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Date deposited: 28 Aug 2014 13:47
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:31
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Author:
K Lock
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