The Ciclovía-Recreativa: A mass-recreational program with public health potential.
BACKGROUND
The Ciclovía-Recreativa is a free, community-based program in which streets are closed temporarily to motorized transport, allowing access to walkers, runners, rollerbladers, and cyclists only. We assessed existing information about the Ciclovía as a public health strategy and proposed next steps for research and public health practice.


METHODS
We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed and other literature, which was complemented by expert interviews and consultation.


RESULTS
We reviewed 38 Ciclovías from 11 countries. Most programs (84.2%) take place in urban settings. The programs range from 18-64 events per year (54 + or - 24.6; 52 [mean + or - standard deviation; median]) with events lasting from 2-12 hours (6 + or - 2.4; 6). The length of the streets ranges from 1-121 km (14.6 + or - 22.1; 7), and the estimated number of participants per event ranges from 60-1,000,000 persons (61,203 + or - 186,668; 3810). Seventy-one percent of the programs include physical activity classes and in 89% of the Ciclovías, the streets are connected with parks.


CONCLUSIONS
Ciclovías have potential for positive public health outcomes, but evidence on their effectiveness is limited. The different stages of new and established programs offer a unique opportunity for transnational studies aimed at assessing their public health impact.
Sarmiento
Olga
O
Dept of Social Medicine, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
Torres
Andrea
A
Jacoby
Enrique
E
Pratt
Michael
M
Schmid
Thomas L
TL
Stierling
Gonzalo
G
D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004779:Environment Design; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D011633:Public Facilities; D015980:Public Health Practice; D011788:Quality of Life; D011998:Recreation; D012931:Social Environment