title: TransMilenio, a Scalable Bus Rapid Transit System for Promoting Physical Activity.
abstract: Transport systems can play an important role in increasing physical activity (PA). Bogotá has been recognized for its bus rapid transit (BRT) system, TransMilenio (TM). To date, BRTs have been implemented in over 160 cities worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the association between PA and the use of TM among adults in Bogotá. The study consists of a cross-sectional study conducted from 2010 to 2011 with 1000 adults. PA was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. In a subsample of 250 adults, PA was objectively measured using ActiGraph accelerometers. Analyses were conducted using multilevel logistic regression models. The use of TM was associated with meeting moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). TM users were more likely to complete an average of >22 min a day of MVPA (odds ratio [OR] = 3.1, confidence interval [CI] = 95 % 1.4-7.1) and to walk for transportation for ≥150 min per week (OR = 1.5; CI = 95 % 1.1-2.0). The use of TM was associated with 12 or more minutes of MVPA (95 % CI 4.5-19.4, p < 0.0001). Associations between meeting PA recommendations and use of TM did not differ by socioeconomic status (p value = 0.106) or sex (p value = 0.288). The use of TM is a promising strategy for enhancing public health efforts to reduce physical inactivity through walking for transport. Given the expansion of BRTs, these results could inform the development of transport PA programs in low- to high-income countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, CeiBA Complex Systems Research Center, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Pablo D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Lemoine
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, CeiBA Complex Systems Research Center, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 3 #18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia. osarmien@uniandes.edu.co.
authors.forename: Olga L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Art and Design, Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.
authors.forename: Jose David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Pinzón
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, CeiBA Complex Systems Research Center, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Jose D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Meisel
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, CeiBA Complex Systems Research Center, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.affiliation: EMBARQ, The WRI Center for Sustainable Transport, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, CeiBA Complex Systems Research Center, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 3 #18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, CeiBA Complex Systems Research Center, Universidad de los Andes, Carrera 3 #18A-10, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zambrano
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cordovez
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, CeiBA Complex Systems Research Center, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zarama
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002947:Cities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003105:Colombia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bus rapid transit; Physical activity; Transportation; Walking