BACKGROUND: The Ciclovía-Recreativa is a free, community-based program in which streets are closed temporarily to motorized transport, allowing access to walkers, runners, rollerbladers, and cyclists only. We assessed existing information about the Ciclovía as a public health strategy and proposed next steps for research and public health practice. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed and other literature, which was complemented by expert interviews and consultation. RESULTS: We reviewed 38 Ciclovías from 11 countries. Most programs (84.2%) take place in urban settings. The programs range from 18-64 events per year (54 + or - 24.6; 52 [mean + or - standard deviation; median]) with events lasting from 2-12 hours (6 + or - 2.4; 6). The length of the streets ranges from 1-121 km (14.6 + or - 22.1; 7), and the estimated number of participants per event ranges from 60-1,000,000 persons (61,203 + or - 186,668; 3810). Seventy-one percent of the programs include physical activity classes and in 89% of the Ciclovías, the streets are connected with parks. CONCLUSIONS: Ciclovías have potential for positive public health outcomes, but evidence on their effectiveness is limited. The different stages of new and established programs offer a unique opportunity for transnational studies aimed at assessing their public health impact.
BACKGROUND: The Ciclovía-Recreativa is a free, community-based program in which streets are closed temporarily to motorized transport, allowing access to walkers, runners, rollerbladers, and cyclists only. We assessed existing information about the Ciclovía as a public health strategy and proposed next steps for research and public health practice. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed and other literature, which was complemented by expert interviews and consultation. RESULTS: We reviewed 38 Ciclovías from 11 countries. Most programs (84.2%) take place in urban settings. The programs range from 18-64 events per year (54 + or - 24.6; 52 [mean + or - standard deviation; median]) with events lasting from 2-12 hours (6 + or - 2.4; 6). The length of the streets ranges from 1-121 km (14.6 + or - 22.1; 7), and the estimated number of participants per event ranges from 60-1,000,000 persons (61,203 + or - 186,668; 3810). Seventy-one percent of the programs include physical activity classes and in 89% of the Ciclovías, the streets are connected with parks. CONCLUSIONS: Ciclovías have potential for positive public health outcomes, but evidence on their effectiveness is limited. The different stages of new and established programs offer a unique opportunity for transnational studies aimed at assessing their public health impact.
Authors: Felipe Montes; Olga L Sarmiento; Roberto Zarama; Michael Pratt; Guijing Wang; Enrique Jacoby; Thomas L Schmid; Mauricio Ramos; Oscar Ruiz; Olga Vargas; Gabriel Michel; Susan G Zieff; Juan Alejandro Valdivia; Nick Cavill; Sonja Kahlmeier Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2012-02 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Diana C Paez; Rodrigo S Reis; Diana C Parra; Christine M Hoehner; Olga L Sarmiento; Mauro Barros; Ross C Brownson Journal: Transl Behav Med Date: 2015-03 Impact factor: 3.046
Authors: Gregory W Heath; Diana C Parra; Olga L Sarmiento; Lars Bo Andersen; Neville Owen; Shifalika Goenka; Felipe Montes; Ross C Brownson Journal: Lancet Date: 2012-07-21 Impact factor: 79.321