Promoting Health Education: Ways a National Organization can be Successful

Efforts to increase community levels of physical activity through the development of multi-use urban trails could be strengthened by information about motivational factors predicting trail use. This study examined whether reasons for recreational and transportation use of an urban trail were associated with physical activity levels on an urban trail. Adults (N = 335) living within a 1-mile buffer zone of an urban trail (in Chicago, Dallas, or Los Angeles) completed a self-report measure assessing reasons for recreational (e.g., physical health, exercise, enjoying nature) and transportation (e.g., avoiding travel hassles, costs, exercise) trail use, and trail-related physical activity (mode, frequency, duration). The full regression model (including demographic variables and reasons for trail use) explained 11% and 4% of the variation in recreational and transportation trail activity, respectively. Reason for trail use was a significant predictor of recreational but not transportation activity on the