Bike, Walk, and Wheel

A Way of Life in Columbia, Missouri, Revisited

Columbia residents walked and biked more in 2009 than previously, thanks to an Active Living by Design (ALbD) grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and infrastructure improvements. Columbia, Mo., used its 2003 ALbD grant to foster active living by behavioral and environment change strategies.

The intervention, Bike, Walk and Wheel: A Way of Life in Columbia Missouri (BW&W), implemented Active Living by Design’s 5P model, specifically:

  • Partnerships—among community leaders and stakeholders with an interest in the long-term health of the community
  • Promotions—of the benefits of active living
  • Programs—for children and adolescents
  • Policy influences—to create a more activity-friendly environment
  • Physical projects—to make activity opportunities more accessible and attractive

To evaluate whether pedestrian and cyclist activity increased over the 3-year period (2007–2009), researchers collected data at four intersections leading into downtown Columbia. There were greater numbers of cyclists in 2009, compared to 2007 and 2008, but only during the summer. There were greater numbers of pedestrians in 2009, compared to 2007 and 2008, but only during the summer and fall.

The authors attribute the increases to the ALbD program, greater awareness of physical activity opportunities, and to a 2005 federal grant that increased infrastructure for nonmotorized transportation. Columbia, one of four communities nationwide, used the funds to build bike lanes, trails and improve intersections.

American Journal of Preventive Medicine Presents the Evaluation of RWJF's Active Living by Design Program

  1. 1 Lessons from a Mixed-Methods Approach to Evaluating Active Living by Design
  2. 2 Capturing Community Change
  3. 3 Identifying the Role of Community Partnerships in Creating Change to Support Active Living
  4. 4 Assessment for Active Living
  5. 5 Evaluation of Physical Projects and Policies from the Active Living by Design Partnerships
  6. 6 Programs and Promotions: Approaches by 25 Active Living by Design Partnerships
  7. 7 Active Living by Design: Sustainability Strategies
  8. 8 Concept Mapping: Priority Community Strategies to Create Changes to Support Active Living
  9. 9 Evaluation of Active Living by Design
  10. 10 Evaluation Results from an Active Living Intervention in Somerville, Massachusetts
  11. 11 Bike, Walk, and Wheel
  12. 12 A Walking School Bus Program
  13. 13 Creating a Moment for Active Living via a Media Campaign
  14. 14 Isanti County Active Living
  15. 15 Using a Bicycle-Pedestrian Count to Assess Active Living in Downtown Wilkes-Barre
  16. 16 Active Living by Design's Contributions to the Movement
  17. 17 Healthy People and the Design Sciences
  18. 18 Active Living by Design and It's Evaluation
  19. 19 A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of School-Based Active Living Programs

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