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300584
A two year measure of bicycle and pedestrian practices and preferences in a medium sized southern city: Recommendations for education, advocacy, and policy
Monday, November 17, 2014
Mary Hawkins, Ph.D., CHES
,
Kinesiology & Health Science Dept., Louisiana State University Shreveport, Shreveport, LA
Timothy Winter, PhD., CHES.
,
Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Louisiana State University in Shreveport, SHREVEPORT, LA
Donna Cavanaugh, B.A.
,
Think First - Ark La Tex, Shreveport, LA, LA
Physical inactivity is a contributing factor to poor health. Walking and bicycling are physical activities that are low cost, easy to perform, and are contingent on the built environment. The purpose of this research was to collect and analyze data on bicycling and walking activities at major intersections in a midsized southern city to determine use patterns and make recommendations for education, advocacy, and policy. The first bicycle and pedestrian study was conducted for 3 days, from 7am -7pm, in the Spring of 2013 at 12 selected sites. Testing days were a Saturday, Monday, and Thursday. Pedestrians and cyclists were counted and interviewed during the measure. During the initial measure, there were 5,411 total participants counted, and 90% of those participants were pedestrians. The main purposes of walking indicated by participants were personal business, commuting to work, exercising, and shopping. Pedestrians were more likely to be African American (57%) while bicyclists were more likely to be Caucasian (51%). Year 2 research will be conducted for 3 days at the end of March, 2014, and the results will be analyzed and compared with the data from the previous year. Preferences for purpose of biking or walking, choice of routes, and demographics will be examined. Recommendations to decision makers for education, advocacy, and policy to encourage cycling and walking will be discussed.
Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Describe the bicycle and pedestrian practices of residents in a medium sized southern city.
Describe the bicycle and pedestrian preferences of residents in a medium sized southern city.
Identify the deciision making and education recommendations based on bicycle and pedestrial practices and preferences in a medium sized southern city.
Keyword(s): Physical Activity, Built Environment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-prinicpal investigator of public health research studies and have previously presented at APHA on environmentally related health research and best practices.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
