Cycling, the Built Environment, and Health: Results of a Midwestern Study

Abstract

Are cyclists different from those who do not cycle in terms of individual and neighborhood characteristics? This article draws on a study of over 700 adults in three groups: those who had cycled in the past week, in the past 2 years, and non-cyclists. It examines their body mass index (BMI), physical activity, sociodemographics, environmental perceptions, and geographic information system (GIS)-measured neighborhood features. Those who cycled occasionally lived in similar environments to frequent cyclists but perceived some aspects differently. Those who cycled more demonstrated characteristics generally thought to indicate good health, but they did not perceive themselves as healthier.

Keywords:

• cycling
• environment
• health
• physical activity

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the editor and three anonymous reviewers for very helpful comments. Sam Liu provided initial statistical research assistance; Kathryn H. Schmitz worked on measurement; and Kevin Krizek provided valuable comments on an earlier draft.

Notes

^a Any miles in travel diary (last week).

^b Ridden bicycle in neighborhood in past 2 years but not last week.

^c These letters refer to the first letters in the column headings to the left of the table.

^d The IPAQ numbers are slightly different to the diary numbers: 12 people recorded cycling in the past week in the IPAQ survey but not in the diary.

*p = < .05 level.

^a Variable only measured for 200 m and 400 m straight line and network buffers around participant residence due to data availability.

*p < .05, **p < .01.

^a Measured at 1,600 meter network buffer unless noted, and only those variables significant at the p < .05 level are described.

^b Variable only measured for 400 m network buffers around participant residence due to data availability.

^c ha: hectare.

¹To construct scales, relevant items have been reversed so that all are in the same direction with higher numbers being better.

²Responses are four points 1 strongly agree to 4 strongly disagree.

³Section prefaced with: “Please choose the answer that best applies to you and your neighborhood. Both local and within walking distance mean within a 20 minute walk from your home.” Scales are from survey sections H, I, J, K, L, and M (Twin Cities Walking Survey 2005).

⁴Responses are 1 strongly dissatisfied to 5 strongly satisfied.

⁵N is low because a number of people did not answer questions related to cycling and schools.

⁶Scale is 5 points from 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree.

⁷Scale is average number of days in the past month participants have done each activity.

^a Measured by accelerometer.

*p < .05.

*Current affiliation is Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.