title: An environmental intervention to promote walking and cycling--the impact of a newly constructed Rail Trail in Western Sydney.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have evaluated environmental changes to promote physical activity. The impact of a local promotional campaign around a newly constructed Rail Trail in western Sydney, Australia, was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre and post-campaign telephone surveys were used. Adults 18-55 years of age were randomly sampled from an "inner" area, residents within < or =1.5 km of the Trail, and an "outer" area, bike-owners only, 1.5-5 km from the Trail. Objective concurrent monitoring of daily bike counts was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A cohort of 450 completed both interviews. A significant increase (+2.9%, McNemar P < 0.05) in unprompted Trail awareness was detected but post-campaign awareness was low (34%). Inner cyclists, males, and those recalling any baseline bike promotion messages were more likely to be aware of the Trail. Trail usage was higher among bike-owners than pedestrians (8.9 vs 3.3%, P = 0.014) and was moderated by proximity to the Trail. Inner cyclists increased mean cycling time by 0.19 h (SD = 1.5) while outer cyclists decreased cycling time (-0.24 h, SD = 1.6). Mean daily bike counts in the monitored areas increased significantly after the Trail launch (OR = 1.35, P = 0.0001, and OR = 1.23, P = 0.0004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The campaign reached and influenced cyclists in the inner area. For further increase in Trail usage promotional and educational programs focusing on walking for inner residents are needed.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, NSW Centre for Physical Activity and Health, University of New South Wales, Liverpool NSW 2170, Australia. dafna.merom@swsahs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Dafna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merom
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauman
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vita
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Close
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001642:Bicycling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*