Dose-response association of workplace facilities and policies with commuter bicycling among adults

''I felt marvellous e-cycling. If I had long hair I would have flicked it": a qualitative investigation of the factors associated with e-cycling engagement among adults with type 2 diabetes

Background

Physical activity (PA) is a key component in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, this population have low rates of PA engagement. Electrically assisted cycling has been identified as a means through which to increase PA by incorporating activity into daily life, while overcoming some of the barriers to conventional cycling. The determinants of e-cycling among people living with chronic disease are largely unknown. The aim of this research was to explore the determinants of e-cycling among individuals with type 2 diabetes using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation for Behaviour change model (COM-B). This information is important for determining the suitability of future e-cycling initiatives and, if appropriate, inform future e-cycling interventions.

Method

One-to-one semi structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants from the e-cycling arm of a pilot randomised controlled trial between September 2019 and April 2020. The TDF was used to develop the interview guide. The framework method of analysis was used, incorporating both deductive and inductive reasoning. A conceptual model of the factors that influence e-cycling in this population was created.

Results

The most commonly reported TDF domains were skills, knowledge, belief about capabilities, belief about consequences and environmental context and resources. Specifically, e-bike training facilitated e-cycling engagement by providing participants with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to ride the e-bike and ride on the road. In addition, the enjoyment of e-cycling was a key facilitator to engagement. Participants engaged in e-cycling to improve their health rather than for environmental reasons. Most barriers to e-cycling related to the natural or physical environment.

Conclusion

This study provides insight into the personal, social, and environmental factors associated with e-cycling in this population. The findings of this study can be used to develop a more refined e-cycling intervention targeting the factors identified as influencing e-cycling engagement. In addition, this information will help in the selection of mechanistic outcome measures for evaluation.

The social and physical workplace environment and commute mode: A natural experimental study

Despite strong evidence for health benefits from active travel, levels remain low in many countries. Changes to the physical and social workplace environment might encourage active travel but evaluation has been limited. We explored associations between changes in the physical and social workplace environment and changes in commute mode over one year among 419 participants in the Commuting and Health in Cambridge study. In adjusted analyses, an increase in the presence of one physical characteristic (e.g. bicycle parking or shower facilities) was associated with a 3.3% (95% confidence interval 1.0-5.6) reduction in the proportion of commutes by private motor vehicle and a 4.4% (95% CI 1.2-7.7) increase in the proportion of trips including active modes among men. These associations were not seen in women. A change to a more favourable social environment for walking or cycling among workplace management was associated with an increased proportion of commutes including active modes in women (4.5%, 95% CI 1.4-7.5) but not men. However, in both genders a change to more a favourable social environment for cycling among colleagues was associated with a reduced proportion of commutes by exclusively active modes (-2.8%, 95% CI -5.0 to -0.6). This study provides longitudinal evidence for gender differences in the associations between workplace environment and commute mode. A more supportive physical environment was associated with more active commuting in men, while the social environment appeared to have more complex associations that were stronger among women.

Beyond cycle lanes and large-scale infrastructure: a scoping review of initiatives that groups and organisations can implement to promote cycling for the Cycle Nation Project

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Cycling has well-established positive relationships with health. Evidence suggests that large-scale infrastructure and built-environment initiatives to promote cycling are likely to be necessary but not sufficient to maximise cycling participation. Smaller-scale initiatives that can be implemented by organisations (eg, employers) and groups (eg, community groups) are therefore also important, but the full range of feasible activities to promote cycling is not known. We aimed to scope the literature and map organisational, social and individual level activities to increase cycling.

METHODS

Design: Scoping review following an established five-stage process.Eligibility criteria: Studies or publicly available reports describing cycling promotion initiatives deemed feasible for organisations or groups to implement.Sources of evidence and selection: (i) online databases (Ovid (Medline), Ovid (Embase), SportDISCUS (Ebscohost), ProQuest, Web of Science), (ii) existing systematic reviews, (iii) expert stakeholder consultation.

RESULTS

We extracted data from 129 studies and reports, from 20 different countries, identifying 145 cycling promotion initiatives. From these initiatives we identified 484 actions within 93 action types within 33 action categories under the nine intervention functions described by Michie et al. Environmental restructuring (micro-level), enablement, education and persuasion were the functions with the most action types, while coercion, modelling and restriction had the fewest action types.

CONCLUSION

This is the first comprehensive map to summarise the broad range of action types feasible for implementation within organisation/group-based cycling promotion initiatives. The map will be a critical tool for communities, employers, practitioners and researchers in designing interventions to increase cycling.