Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe the profile of bicycle users, their perceived difficulty to cycle, and the most frequent trip origins and destinations in Aracaju, Northeast Brazil. Our cross-sectional study sampled 1001 participants and we collected information through structured interviews. Aged ≥15 years, participants were residents of all Aracaju’s neighborhoods and used a bicycle for commuting to work or for leisure. We observed that bicycle users in Aracaju are predominantly employed male subjects, aged between 18 and 40 years, and were the heads of their households. Most of the them reported “work” as the main reason for their bicycle trips and, “health” and “practicality” aspects as their main motivations for using bicycles. In general, the neighborhoods in the north and center of the city were identified as the most difficult for cycling, and the easiest trips occurred in places with cycle paths. As a conclusion of this study, we reaffirm the need for intersectoral actions that create favorable environments for active commuting and more sustainable cities.
Highlights
Increased physical inactivity is currently a major challenge in several countries [1], mainly due to its association with an increased risk of chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, different types of cancer, and mental disorders [2,3]
60-km cycle paths distributed in the city of Aracaju serve mostly men, younger adults, and people with lower educational levels, as compared with the population of Aracaju; (2) the use of active commuting is associated with going to work, especially in the lowest income group; (3) most bicycle users move from central to peripheral areas; and (4) the majority of the participants spent an average of 15 to 30 min
Bicycle users are predominantly represented by men, aged between 18 and 40 years, from low income families in Aracaju, Brazil
Summary
Increased physical inactivity is currently a major challenge in several countries [1], mainly due to its association with an increased risk of chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, different types of cancer, and mental disorders [2,3]. Most people do not comply with the minimum recommended levels of physical activity to prevent diseases and to protect health, i.e., according to the World Health Organization’s physical activity guidelines [4]. In this sense, the adoption of different strategies to provide an active lifestyle emerges as the most viable alternative for the promotion of physical activity [1,5], such as changes in the urbanized environment of cities to enable active commuting [6]. Public Health 2020, 17, 7983; doi:10.3390/ijerph17217983 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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