Cycling infrastructure and transportational and recreational physical activity in Canadians

Abstract

Built environments that support cycling, especially those that are comfortable and safe (e.g., protected cycle tracks), are positively associated with physical activity (PA). The objective was to determine the associations between cycling infrastructure and transportational (PA_TRA) and recreational (PA_REC) PA among urban-dwelling Canadians. Self-reported PA_TRA/PA_REC data (N = 120,648, aged 12+ years) from the 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021 cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey were linked to cycling infrastructure. Neighbourhood-level infrastructure included: total kilometres (km_unweighted), kilometres weighted by comfort/safety (km_weighted), and category of infrastructure level. Multivariable logistic and linear regression examined the association between cycling infrastructure and engagement and duration of PA_TRA/PA_REC. Approximately half (48.8 %) of urban-dwelling Canadians reported engaging in PA_TRA, while 58.2 % reported engaging in PA_REC. Greater exposure to infrastructure was both associated with engagement in PA_TRA (km_unweighted: aOR = 1.04, km_weighted: aOR = 1.07, p < .0001) and PA_REC (km: aOR = 1.02, km_weighted: aOR = 1.03, p < .0001), as well as duration of PA_TRA (km: β = 0.03, km_weighted: β = 0.06, p < .0001) and PA_REC (km: β = 0.01, km_weighted: β = 0.02, p < .0001). Compared to the lowest level of infrastructure (category 1), the highest level (category 5) was associated with greater engagement and duration of PA_TRA (aOR = 1.88, 95 % CI: 1.69–2.09; β = 0.50, 95 % CI: 0.42–0.58) and PA_REC (aOR = 1.26, 95 % CI: 1.13–1.39, β = 0.19, 95 % CI: 0.11–0.27). Cycling infrastructure, especially of higher comfort and safety, is associated with engagement and duration of PA_TRA and PA_REC among urban-dwelling Canadians. Future longitudinal work is needed to explore associations with cycling-only outcomes, as well as identifying the actual cycling infrastructure used.