Urban Trails Research Articles

Estimating exercisality on urban trails using physical exercise trajectory data and network-constrained approach

Green exercise is a key aspect of urban vitality, supporting the hypothesis that increased physical exercise boosts urban vitality. Although research on urban vitality considers green space a crucial aspect, existing studies have concentrated on external functioning from the perspective of special systems, often overlooking the unique internal functioning associated with exercisers. This study proposed an original conceptual framework of exercisality, which is composed of four dimensions: density, diversity, time continuity and energy expenditure. Considering urban trails are publicly accessible and linear-type green infrastructure for residents to conduct and maintain regular and habitual green exercise, we have developed an innovative quantitative approach to estimate and validate exercisality on urban trails (EUT), by utilizing physical exercise trajectory data from the Keep APP across central Beijing in 2022. The hot spots of EUT were identified through the innovative method of local indicators of network-constrained clusters. It is argued that this new index of EUT which is scale independence when applied to exercise trajectory big data, generates data driven evidence to support human well-being.

Urban Trail Exposure in Winnipeg, Canada: Longitudinal Cohort Development for a 20-Year Difference-in-Differences Analysis of a Natural Experiment with Varied Duration of Exposure Times

ObjectiveDevelop a cohort to evaluate a real-world experiment of the built environment on the incidence of disease, accounting for movement of people, postal codes, incidence of disease and changing demographics. ApproachThe City of Winnipeg, Canada built multi-use trails in 2010-2012. We used the administrative data housed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy to evaluate the effect of this change in the built environment on the incidence of cardiovascular disease events (CVDE) and risk factors (CVDRF) before (2000-2009) and after (2012-2019) the trails were built. The Manitoba Health Insurance Registry contains postal code and demographic information on nearly all city residents and was utilized for cohort creation and person-time exposure. Individuals’ residential postal codes were linked to geo-spatial data to determine proximity to built trails at 400m, 800m and 1200m. Semi-annual postal code changes accounted for movement within/outside city limits or exclusion from the cohort. Diagnoses from hospital abstract and physician visit data and outpatient prescription dispensations were used to access prevalence and incidence of a CVDE composite measure of congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease and stroke and a CVDRF composite measure of diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Conclusions and ImplicationsLeveraging a diverse set of administrative databases, we built a cohort evaluate the effect of building multi-use trails in Winnipeg on the reduction on CVDE and CVDRF. This demonstrates how administrative data can be used to evaluate natural, real-world experiments with minimal direct data measurement or public intrusion, resulting in actionable results to inform public policy.

Micromobility in Urban Trail Paths: Expanding and Strengthening the Planning of 15-Minute Cities

Contemporary urban planning models include urban trail paths. These are paths that create active transportation corridors within a city’s built environment, providing more sustainable travel, especially for short trips. The benefits of their use are plentiful, including improvements in commuters’ health, reductions in energy footprint, and socio-economic benefits for the entire society. In modern urban planning approaches such as the “15-minute city”, urban trail paths serve as connectors, facilitating access to amenities beyond the close-proximity concept of a “neighborhood”. They act as a way of connecting residents to other 15-minute cities/neighborhoods via safe routes, reducing extensive car use. Micromobility constitutes a novel approach to short trips with proven results. This paper explores the possibility of introducing micromobility as a means of connecting 15-minute cities/neighborhoods through urban trail paths. Through a literature review, an analysis is conducted of the opportunities arising from the introduction of micromobility, as well as on the factors influencing its sustained use in urban mobility and the public realm.

COVID-19 compliance among urban trail users: Behavioral insights and environmental implications.

As both trail width and visitor density impacted physical distancing, a combination of trail design that accommodates distancing requirements and density management practices that provide sufficient trail user spacing is essential to retain safe and active trail use.Off-trail movement was influenced by both trail width and density, so ensuring safe off-trail spaces exist and using durable off-trail materials can minimize disturbance and protect visitors.Signage is inconsistently significant to influence trail-compliant distancing behavior, but optimizing its placement and content may improve effectiveness.Compliant trail behavior varied by trail width, visitor density, and trail location; therefore, site-specific information is necessary to understand possible visitor behavior and design/implement mitigation strategies.

The forgotten art of walking. Toward intra-active geography of an urban landscape

ABSTRACT In this paper, we propose to redefine the classical studies of urban trails and wanderings by giving greater consideration to the affective and intra-active aspects of the performance of gait. Hence, the idea is to deepen our knowledge of landscape as a sphere of movement. The need to conduct research on urban walking emerges from the mechanics of so-called “sensory motor amnesia”, an unaware process of memory loss of how certain groups of muscles feel and how to control them. It seems that, apart from such casual matters as small injuries and bad postural habits, the process can be also deepened due to cultural factors, as a result of adapting bodies to modern urban life patterns. The phenomenon of re-fixing specific, human, physiological affordances is manifested by the development and preference of certain techniques and strategies of embodied acting in space, among which some may result in enhancing the sphere of discomfort and others lead to somatic improvement. This article presents walking, as one of the body technologies constituting the quality of spatial experience. Walking is presented as an exploratory, and adaptive form of the art of living, which can improve the quality of human urban life. The proposed treatment of the topic within the framework of an affective, intra-active, urban landscape theory may facilitate a better understanding of the mechanics of unperceived (hidden) affordances, pertaining to the processes involved in the developing performatics of different kinds of walking in different kinds of urban landscapes.

Evaluation of the Acoustic Environment of Urban Recreational Trails

The acoustic environment state of four recreational trails in Taichung was investigated. First, the basic forms, spatial proportions, characteristics of the trail interfaces, and sound sources of the recreational trail spaces were investigated. Second, sound pressure level measurement and a questionnaire survey were conducted in relation to the four trails. The measurements demonstrated that the sound levels of the four trail spaces are lower than the permissible exposure limit 90 dB(A) recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Meanwhile, the results of the factor analysis show that the perception of the acoustic environment of recreational trails has five dimensions: likability, intensity, communication, joyfulness, and richness. Compared with the acoustic environments of other cities, the perception of the acoustic environment of the recreational trails in this city was characterized by more dimensions and a more balanced structure.

Climate change and physical activity: ambient temperature and urban trail use in Texas

Individuals in the USA are insufficiently active, increasing their chronic disease risk. Extreme temperatures may reduce physical activity due to thermal discomfort. Cooler climate studies have suggested climate change may have a net positive effect on physical activity, yet research gaps remain for warmer climates and within-day physical activity patterns. We determined the association between ambient temperatures (contemporary and projected) and urban trail use in a humid subtropical climate. At a trail in Austin, TX, five electronic counters recorded hourly pedestrian and cyclist counts in 2019. Weather data were acquired from World Weather Online. Generalized additive models estimated the association between temperature and trail counts. We then combined the estimated exposure–response relation with weather projections from climate models for intermediate (RCP4.5) and high (RCP8.5) emissions scenarios by NASA NEX-GDDP. From summer to autumn to spring to winter, hourly trail counts shifted from bimodal (mid-morning and early-evening peaks) to one mid-day peak. Pedestrians were more likely to use the trail between 7 and 27 °C (45–81°F) with peak use at 17 °C (63°F) and cyclists between 15 and 33 °C (59–91°F) with peak use at 27 °C (81°F) than at temperature extremes. A net decrease in trail use was estimated by 2041–2060 (RCP4.5: pedestrians = − 4.5%, cyclists = − 1.1%; RCP8.5: pedestrians = − 6.6%, cyclists = − 1.6%) and 2081–2100 (RCP4.5: pedestrians = − 7.5%, cyclists = − 1.9%; RCP8.5: pedestrians = − 16%, cyclists = − 4.5%). Results suggest climate change may reduce trail use. We recommend interventions for thermal comfort at settings for physical activity.

Neighborhood Change and Gentrification Near Three Urban Trails

This paper describes changes in indicators of gentrification in neighborhoods adjacent to recently opened multiuse trails in three US cities. We hypothesize changes are greater in abutting Census Block Groups (CBGs) than in CBGs further from the trails and use a case-control, pre-post design to report changes in gentrification status and related indicators three years after opening. We provide evidence of gentrification near each trail, but in two cases the majority of gentrifiable CBGs in treatment groups remained gentrifiable after three years. Rates and degree of gentrification associated with new trails differ depending on context.

Air Pollution and Outdoor Recreation on Urban Trails: A Case Study of the Elizabeth River Trail, Norfolk

Poor air quality represents a significant health risk for individuals engaging in recreation activities outdoors in urban parks and trails. This study investigated temporal variability in particulate matter (PM) exposure along an urban waterfront trail. We also used recreation choice frameworks to examine the effects of visitors’ perceptions of air quality (AQ) and health benefits on trail use. Average air quality during the collection period was “good” (PM10) to “moderate” (PM2.5). We found that PM density was significantly higher (p < 0.001), though still in the “moderate” range, at 7–9 a.m., 11 a.m.–1 p.m., and 3–5 p.m., and on weekends. Visitors’ self-reported perceptions of health outcomes, but not air quality, significantly predicted trail use. Results suggest that these experiential factors may affect recreational choices depending on other factors, such as salience. Further research is merited to determine how experiential factors can be integrated with other theories of motivation to understand recreational decision-making.

Observed physical activity among Latinx and White men and women on a new urban trail.

Despite efforts to increase physical activity through new green space infrastructure such as trails, disparities in physical activity may persist. The current study compared observed vigorous physical activity (VPA) engagement among White and Latinx men and women on a new urban trail, and whether engagement varied over time. We used a modified System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) methodology to determine observed race/ethnicity, gender, and physical activity level of trail users (n=15,109). Logistic regression analyses revealed the odds of engaging in VPA were lower for Latina women than all other population subgroups (vs. White men: OR 0.19, CI 0.17-0.22; vs. White women: OR 0.48, CI 0.42-0.54, vs. Latino men: OR 0.23, CI 0.19-0.26). VPA engagement by White and Latina women increased across the study years (OR 1.31, CI 1.17-1.46; OR 1.36, CI 1.08-1.71, respectively) but did not differ significantly by year for White and Latino men. Future efforts to address racial/ethnic-gender disparities in VPA should take an intersectional approach to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable population subgroups are properly accounted for.

Economic Benefits of Changes in Active Transportation Behavior Associated with a New Urban Trail

ABSTRACT Insufficient physical activity (PA) is a highly prevalent behavior and confers heightened risk of many chronic health conditions. Infrastructure for PA, including urban trails, represents a way of increasing PA at a population level. This study was conducted to determine the impact of an urban trail on PA, motor vehicle use, and to assess the benefit–expenditure ratio of mitigating the high public health burden of physical inactivity with bicycle and pedestrian trails. Intercept surveys were conducted, from December 2018 through March 2019, to assess PA, transportation mode, and travel distances among trail users before (2015) and after the trail opened in New Orleans, Louisiana. Statewide measures from 2015 to 2017 were used for comparison. Changes in PA and motor vehicle use were simulated based on survey data and monetized over a 30-yr period. Trail users who responded to the survey reported changes in PA (17.7-min weekly increase), nonactive transportation (3.1-mile weekly decrease), and motor vehicle ownership (6.5% decrease) from before the trail was opened to the present. Cumulative economic benefits (health care, mortality, and motor vehicle) exceeded trail-related expenditures in 2032, reaching a ratio of 1.51 in 2045. The urban trail in this study contributed to increased PA and reduced motor vehicle use and may reduce health care, mortality, and motor vehicle–related costs. Personal and social economic benefits from the increases in PA and reduction in motor vehicle ownership and ownership exceeded expenditures over the 30-yr simulation period. PA infrastructure can be a prudent investment of public resources.

Adherence to Physical Distancing Guidelines on Urban Recreational Trails During a Pandemic

Use of urban trails and other green space during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic reached record highs around the world. Although the use of these resource amenities has been documented to have several physical and mental health benefits, the density of their use during the pandemic required managers to issue guidance and/or use-requirements to mitigate the spread of the virus. Hence, this investigation sought to document adherence to commonly suggested physical distancing guidelines at 14 trails across six states in the United States. Trained research team members unobtrusively observed over 10,000 encounters between trail visitors. Results indicated that over half of visitor groups failed to allow for enough physical distancing between themselves and another party, suggesting a need for trail and green space managers to consider additional messaging and trail design changes to encourage greater adherence to future public health guidelines.

Biodiverse urban forests, happy people: Experimental evidence linking perceived biodiversity, restoration, and emotional wellbeing

Here we investigate whether perceived biodiversity is linked to emotional wellbeing, taking into account the individual level of connection to nature, and whether such relationship is mediated by perceived restorativeness. We exposed participants to urban trails of different biodiversity levels and analysed the data using linear mixed-effects and structural equation models. Our results show that animal diversity and nature relatedness are positively linked to perceived restorativeness that, in turn, increases positive affect and decreases negative affect; thus suggesting that restoration mediates the effect of biodiversity on emotional wellbeing. We also found walk duration is linked to increased positive affect and reduced negative affect while crowdedness level in the trail has the opposite effect. Our results show an important link between urban biodiversity conservation and public mental health.

The Impact of Individual Perception on the Utilization of a Recreational Urban Trail

Recreational opportunities are associated with increased physical activity if they are conveniently located and feature adequate amenities. A pilot study on an urban trail in Austin, Texas revealed that 40% of the popular trail was underutilized despite adequate access and amenities over the entire length of the trail. The purpose of this study was to expand this research to identify the perceptions that are causing users to avoid the underutilized sections. An online survey measured user perception of 11 trail characteristics and a trail user count sought to replicate earlier findings and supplement the online survey data. Results showed that perception of safety, trail continuity, and route flexibility impacted trail utilization.

Analysis of Rare Plant Occurrence Data for Monitoring Prioritization

Efforts to conserve rare plant species can be limited by a lack of time and funding for monitoring. Understanding species occurrence and distribution patterns within existing protected habitat and throughout the entire species range can help stewards prioritize rare plant monitoring. We created a database of rare plant occurrences from public, private, and research sources to analyze the distribution of rare plant species throughout the existing protected area within the Nature Reserve of Orange County in California, USA. We analyzed species occurrence relative to the urban edge, roads, trails, and mean high tide line. We also determined the vegetation community with the highest number of rare plant species to help prioritize habitats for conservation and restoration. We found that some parts of protected areas have more rare plant species and we also found sampling biases on the location of occurrence data. We found that rare species occur close to roads and trails and the mean high tide line. Rare species were in all vegetation communities within the reserve, including degraded areas. Using patterns of distribution and considering the immediate threats to a rare species population can help land managers and stewards prioritize monitoring toward the most threatened species.

The Association of Trail Features With Self-Report Trail Use by Neighborhood Residents.

Urban trails are a useful resource to promote physical activity. This study identified features of urban trails that correlated with trail use. Multiuse urban trails were selected in Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles. An audit of each trail was completed using the Systematic Pedestrian and Cyclist Environmental Scan for Trails instrument, identifying built environmental features. A self-report of trail use was obtained from trailside residents (N = 331) living within 1 mile of each trail. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regressions controlled for trail time from home and motivation for physical activity. Positive associations with the past month's hours on the trail were observed for the presence of distance signs, vegetation height, vegetation maintenance, and trail crowding, and a negative association was observed for the presence of crossings on the trail. Positive associations with dichotomous trail use were observed for the presence of distance signs, vegetation height, and vegetation maintenance, and a negative association was observed for the presence of crossings on the trail. These correlates should be confirmed in other studies and, if supported, should be considered in the promotion and design of urban trails.

Association between trail use and self-rated wellness and health

BackgroundIncorporating trail use into daily activity routines could be an important venue to increase a population’s physical activity. This study presents important health impacts of trail use.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 8 trails throughout the State of Indiana. A mix of urban, suburban, and rural trails were selected. Recruitment sessions were completed during four 1-week periods throughout the study in various locations and at various times of day on each trail between April and October 2017. Data were collected through online and paper surveys. For each type of physical activity, a generalized additive model for self-rated wellness and health was built adjusting for demographics, socioeconomic status, amounts of physical activity on trails, mood status, sleep pattern, diet and smoking habit. The plots of estimated smoothing spline function with 95% confidence band were pictured. All statistical analyses were conducted using R.ResultsThe final sample size included 1299 trail users; 92% were White, 79% aged 18–65 years, 71% were married and 56% were male. Biking, walking and running were the main activities with 52, 29 and 19%, respectively. Female to male ratio was 3:2 in walkers vs. 2:3 in runners and bikers. Runners were significantly younger than the other two groups. Runners also had the highest percentage of college graduates and above, the highest rate of employment, the highest income, and the lowest percentage of being retired among the three groups. They more commonly used the trails alone than the walkers and bikers. Bikers had the highest rate of job satisfaction. They also showed a better mean score of mood than that the walkers and runners. There was a linear association between walking and self-rated wellness and health, and a curved association between running/biking and self-rated wellness and health. Running < 6.5 miles/week and biking > 14 miles/week were associated with steeper rise in self-rated wellness and health.ConclusionsEmployed educated married middle-aged people had the highest prevalence of walking, running or biking. The higher the walking, the higher self-rated wellness and health. A similar association was observed for running up to 6.5 miles/week or biking > 14 miles/week.

Identification of environmental drivers in urban greenway communities

Urban trails and greenspaces have become ubiquitous features in cities, in part due to their ability to provide ecological benefits to the built-up environment. A major factor in their popularity is their potential to enhance habitat connectivity by bridging the gaps between remnant patches across urbanized areas, however, information on the structure and function of greenways themselves is limited. In this study we examined how greenways serve as distinct habitats in their own right by characterizing the vegetative structure of the Capital Area Greenway (CAG) in Raleigh, NC. We conducted a systematic vegetation survey of woody vegetation along 39 km of trails (354 random plots) in 2016 and identified environmental variables related to site conditions (percent canopy cover, stream proximity, flood zones), management efforts (designated conservation areas), and local anthropogenic activities (percent impervious surface, street proximity). We preformed three types of multivariate analyses (non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS), multi-response permutation procedures (MRPP), and indicator species analysis (ISA)) to distinguish potential influences on species distribution and community structure. We observed highly diverse riparian, upland mesic, and xeric forest communities within the CAG. Results from NMS and MRPP suggested that vegetation patterns can be differentiated based on local environmental variables. Sites located in conservation areas and floodplains, for instance, were typically found at further distances from streets and were characterized by greater basal area, canopy cover, and higher non-native species richness. Individual study sites were highly diverse and varied even within similar local environments. Our findings indicate that the CAG serves as established natural habitat for native vegetation, supporting the idea that greenways can be used to enhance environmental quality in cities as ecological corridors.

Identifying habitats and corridors of an invasive plant, Ageratina altissima, in an urban forest

The spread of invasive plants in urban forests is of great concern to land managers and ecologists. Here, we analyse the distribution pattern and potential occurrence of a problematic invasive plant, Ageratina altissima, on Mt. Umyeon, in the Seoul metropolitan area of South Korea, using multiple species distribution modelling with geographic information system layers and a time series of Landsat 8 satellite imagery data. Also, we identify this species’ potential dispersal corridors using a network-based landscape lattice approach. All five species distribution models performed well with a range of test area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.843–0.899 with an average of 0.876. Distance from trails had the greatest effect on its occurrence probability, and generally exerted a negative influence within ca. 20 m of trails, indicating that urban forest trails facilitate the spread of invasive plants. Of the remote sensing-based predictors used, 7 August 2016 tasselled cap brightness index was an important variable having a negative effect on the presence of A. altissima. Elevation generally had a positive effect on its presence, although it was less important than tasselled cap brightness index. We explicitly detected the distribution pattern of high invasion risk corridors, mostly located on or around trails, which follow the central ridgeline of the study area. The results and approaches employed here can be useful for understanding, monitoring, and predicting invasive plant distribution and spread for the management of urban natural resources and biodiversity conservation.

Reconnecting Hong Kong in Time and Space

As a high-density compact city, Hong Kong carries the baggage of this, with a chronic shortage of easily accessible urban public open spaces. On the one hand, it leaves the stressful urban localities with no place for instant contact with nature; on the other hand, with a lasting impression of a ‘shopping paradise’ to the tourists, the micro-regeneration of urban public open spaces inevitably becomes tailored to the needs of shopping ‘pilgrims’. Such changes jeopardize the uniqueness and cultural identity of Hong Kong, and there is a crying need to preserve cultural heritage in the already very crowded urban public spaces. Along with the industrial restructuring and spatial regeneration strategies proposed in the newly released Greater Bay Area Development Plan, more public space is potentially relieved in the urban core of Hong Kong. The authors argue that this is a great opportunity for Hong Kong to create a truly integrated urban trail system, which not only connects the underprivileged high-density dwellers to the green and blue spaces, but also offers an interconnected experience of routes that celebrate the cultural authenticity of Hong Kong.