The effectiveness of new urban trail infrastructure on physical activity and active transportation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of natural experiments
Abstract Background Cities in Western countries are investing billions of dollars in new cycling infrastructure (urban trails) to support active transportation (AT) and leisure-type physical activity (PA). Little empirical evidence exists on the effectiveness of urban trails on changes in AT or PA....
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BMC
2025-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01729-4 |
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| author | Isaak Fast Christie Nashed Jack Lotscher Nicole Askin Hannah Steiman De Visser Jonathan McGavock |
| author_facet | Isaak Fast Christie Nashed Jack Lotscher Nicole Askin Hannah Steiman De Visser Jonathan McGavock |
| author_sort | Isaak Fast |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cities in Western countries are investing billions of dollars in new cycling infrastructure (urban trails) to support active transportation (AT) and leisure-type physical activity (PA). Little empirical evidence exists on the effectiveness of urban trails on changes in AT or PA. Design and methods We searched CINAHL, OVID, SPORTDiscus, Transport Research International Documentation (TRID), Web of Science Core Collection and Google Scholar for articles published from 2010 to 2023. We included controlled experimental studies that reported PA, AT or trail counts as outcome measures before and after construction of an urban trail. A modified risk of bias tool was employed to assess the methodological quality of each selected study (Prospero ID: CRD42023438891). Results Three independent reviewers screened abstracts from 3936 articles identified in the original search and identified 24 articles that met inclusion criteria: 11 studies (n = 11,464) that measured changes in PA, 8 studies (n = 92,001) that measured changes in cycling traffic and 5 studies (n = 4,958,203) that measured changes in rates of AT/cycling. Meta-analysis revealed that new trails increased PA levels among individuals in proximity to one, compared to those living in control areas (SMD = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.20; I2 = 73%; n = 11,464). This effect was marginally stronger when data were restricted to individuals living in closest proximity to trails (SMD = 0.14; 96% CI: 0.06 to 0.25, I2 = 74%; n = 8234). Meta-analyses were not possible for measures of AT and cycling counts. All studies were at high risk of bias due to a failure to adhere to reporting guidelines for quasi-experimental studies. Conclusions There is limited but intriguing evidence that the addition of protected urban trails increases daily PA for individuals living in neighbourhoods that receive them. The strength of this evidence could be enhanced with the application of and adherence to principles of causal inference and increased diversity of individuals included in study designs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e8c42595efa04ed2971dd0d71bf938d8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj-art-e8c42595efa04ed2971dd0d71bf938d82025-08-20T02:10:10ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682025-03-0122111110.1186/s12966-025-01729-4The effectiveness of new urban trail infrastructure on physical activity and active transportation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of natural experimentsIsaak Fast0Christie Nashed1Jack Lotscher2Nicole Askin3Hannah Steiman De Visser4Jonathan McGavock5Diabetes Research Envisioned and Accomplished in Manitoba (DREAM) Research Theme, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of ManitobaDiabetes Research Envisioned and Accomplished in Manitoba (DREAM) Research Theme, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of ManitobaDiabetes Research Envisioned and Accomplished in Manitoba (DREAM) Research Theme, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of ManitobaNeil John MacLean Library, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of ManitobaDiabetes Research Envisioned and Accomplished in Manitoba (DREAM) Research Theme, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of ManitobaDiabetes Research Envisioned and Accomplished in Manitoba (DREAM) Research Theme, Children’s Hospital Research Institute of ManitobaAbstract Background Cities in Western countries are investing billions of dollars in new cycling infrastructure (urban trails) to support active transportation (AT) and leisure-type physical activity (PA). Little empirical evidence exists on the effectiveness of urban trails on changes in AT or PA. Design and methods We searched CINAHL, OVID, SPORTDiscus, Transport Research International Documentation (TRID), Web of Science Core Collection and Google Scholar for articles published from 2010 to 2023. We included controlled experimental studies that reported PA, AT or trail counts as outcome measures before and after construction of an urban trail. A modified risk of bias tool was employed to assess the methodological quality of each selected study (Prospero ID: CRD42023438891). Results Three independent reviewers screened abstracts from 3936 articles identified in the original search and identified 24 articles that met inclusion criteria: 11 studies (n = 11,464) that measured changes in PA, 8 studies (n = 92,001) that measured changes in cycling traffic and 5 studies (n = 4,958,203) that measured changes in rates of AT/cycling. Meta-analysis revealed that new trails increased PA levels among individuals in proximity to one, compared to those living in control areas (SMD = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.20; I2 = 73%; n = 11,464). This effect was marginally stronger when data were restricted to individuals living in closest proximity to trails (SMD = 0.14; 96% CI: 0.06 to 0.25, I2 = 74%; n = 8234). Meta-analyses were not possible for measures of AT and cycling counts. All studies were at high risk of bias due to a failure to adhere to reporting guidelines for quasi-experimental studies. Conclusions There is limited but intriguing evidence that the addition of protected urban trails increases daily PA for individuals living in neighbourhoods that receive them. The strength of this evidence could be enhanced with the application of and adherence to principles of causal inference and increased diversity of individuals included in study designs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01729-4CyclingBuilt environmentExerciseActive transportationNatural experimentsMeta analysis |
| spellingShingle | Isaak Fast Christie Nashed Jack Lotscher Nicole Askin Hannah Steiman De Visser Jonathan McGavock The effectiveness of new urban trail infrastructure on physical activity and active transportation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of natural experiments International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Cycling Built environment Exercise Active transportation Natural experiments Meta analysis |
| title | The effectiveness of new urban trail infrastructure on physical activity and active transportation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of natural experiments |
| title_full | The effectiveness of new urban trail infrastructure on physical activity and active transportation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of natural experiments |
| title_fullStr | The effectiveness of new urban trail infrastructure on physical activity and active transportation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of natural experiments |
| title_full_unstemmed | The effectiveness of new urban trail infrastructure on physical activity and active transportation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of natural experiments |
| title_short | The effectiveness of new urban trail infrastructure on physical activity and active transportation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of natural experiments |
| title_sort | effectiveness of new urban trail infrastructure on physical activity and active transportation a systematic review and meta analysis of natural experiments |
| topic | Cycling Built environment Exercise Active transportation Natural experiments Meta analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-025-01729-4 |
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