Bike, Walk, and Wheel: A Way of Life in Columbia, Missouri, Revisited

BackgroundIn 2003, Columbia MO was the recipient of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Active Living by Design (ALbD) grant to foster active living in the community through behavioral (social marketing, education) and environmental change (improved street design standards, sidewalks around schools, activity-friendly infrastructure) strategies.PurposeTo examine the extent to which the ALbD intervention was associated with increased active living in children and adults community-wide.MethodsSeasonal pedestrian and bicyclist counts were performed quarterly in January, April, July, and October at four intersections in downtown Columbia from 2007 to 2009.ResultsPedestrian counts increased significantly during July 2009 and October 2009 compared to 2007 and 2008, whereas cyclist counts increased significantly during only July 2009 compared to 2007 and 2008.ConclusionsThe ALbD intervention in Columbia was associated with modest increases in active living in the community, and continued evaluation of these behavior patterns is warranted. The combination of multiple strategies (social marketing, local programming, and infrastructure changes) may be a critical factor in improving active living in communities.