Resource Coordinator
Alberta Centre for Active Living
Note: where possible, we provide the DOI link to research
papers in the Info Round-Up. To use it,
cut and paste the DOI into the text box on this webpage: http://dx.doi.org/. Access to research articles will be dependent
on your institutional rights.
ABORIGINAL
On January 23, 2013 the Canadian Parks and Recreation
Association and Leisure Information Network Re-Launched the Northern Links
Website, supporting recreation practitioners in First Nations, Inuit and Métis
communities in making positive changes through recreation.
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
As a result of this investigation, an
identification and discussion of the contextual factors, design variables, and
tools for planning and implementing shared bicycle/bus lanes is presented. The
report provides recommendations for further needed research.
Updated from original 2007 version.
From the Victoria Transport Policy Institute.
In Copenhagen’s new bicycle
strategy you can read about the new initiatives and plans, which lay down
guidelines for the long term and overriding priorities within the bicycle area.
This review of research, newly
published material and emerging practice has identified areas where additional
advice and guidance on pedestrian facilities can be incorporated into the
Austroads Guides. (You’ll need to register to download the free .pdf)
American Journal of Public
Health: March 2013, Vol. 103, No. 3, pp. e85-e92
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300917
The authors reported: a greater
likelihood of cycling for those exposed to the public bicycle share program
after the second season of implementation after we controlled for weather,
built environment, and individual variables. They conclude: the implementation
of a public bicycle share program can lead to greater likelihood of cycling
among persons living in areas where bicycles are made available.
It is widely recognized that
there is a need to increase levels of active and sustainable travel in British
urban areas. The Understanding Walking and Cycling (UWAC) project, funded by
the EPSRC, has examined the factors influencing everyday travel decisions and
proposes a series of policy measures to increase levels of walking and cycling
for short trips in urban areas.
In addition to the economic
impact of the pedestrian bridge, Camoin Associates also considered the fiscal
impacts on government revenues. The new business activity and wages resulting
from visitor spending generates additional revenue for local and state
government in the form of sales, hotel and income tax. The following is a
summary of the major findings of the report……
CHILDREN
Children who walk or cycle to school rather than being
driven by their parents have an increased power of concentration, and the
effect of this ‘exercise’ lasts all morning.
Muuvit is a simple and easy to use tool from Finland
designed to engage children in healthy behaviours and regular physical
activity. It provides a way to make learning fun and encourages children to
learn and grow both individually and as a team. Muuvit is available
internationally and allows for classrooms to be connected all over the world.
DISABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY
This Section consists of factsheets of monographs describing
various disabilities and health conditions as well as considerations for each
related to exercise and physical activity.
Including conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Exercise.
OLDER ADULTS
Two physicians who had just become geriatricians walked
through a neighborhood in Baltimore asking passerby if they could describe what
a geriatrician does. They found that “virtually no one” knew what a
geriatrician was. The authors pointed out that if people do not know what a geriatrician
does; they cannot support the growth of geriatrics or seek care from this
specialist.
Journal of Applied Gerontology February 2013 vol. 32 no.
1 96-119
doi: 10.1177/0733464811399896
In short, the study finds: To market fall prevention,
don’t mention falls.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
PLOS Medicine
The authors conclude that “More leisure time physical
activity was associated with longer life expectancy across a range of activity
levels and BMI groups.”
The U.S. Trust for Public Land is financing the
implementation of weather-durable exercise equipment in 80 parks around the
nation in order to create healthy outdoor playgrounds.
Their mission is to elevate physical activity as a public
health priority in Ontario through engagement, education, advocacy and
strategic alliances.
RURAL
Lee’s Summit, Missouri is a city of just over 91,000
people located 20 miles from downtown Kansas City. During the last decade,
Lee’s Summit experienced rapid growth, with the city’s population swelling by
nearly 20 percent from 2005 to 2010. Notable among Lee’s Summit accomplishments
is the City’s Complete Streets policy, the first in the region. The policy
helps ensure pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, disabled citizens and
motorists are all considered in future transportation projects and accommodated
fairly
Mission is a first-generation suburb of just under 10,000
people, located 8 miles south of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. At just 2.7
square miles, Mission feels like a small town despite being minutes away from
the center city. Some might see Mission’s small size as an obstacle to economic
vitality. But the community in Mission saw smart growth strategies as a way to
raise the profile of the city far beyond its small size.
URBAN DESIGN
A document from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information
Center (PBIC) discussing the importance of walking and cycling - includes resources.
Health & Place Online 4 Feb 2013 Accepted Manuscript
► Physical activity from a prospective behavioural
intervention was explored. ► We calculated Walk Score® and neighbourhood
walkability for each participant. ► Interactions between intervention and
neighbourhood characteristics were examined. ► Participants in the intervention
group reported significantly more physical activity.
This guidance from the Mayor of London gives practical
advice about how to create spaces for play in new developments in urban areas
for young people. This guidance will form part of the over-arching Shaping
Neighbourhoods Portfolio. It is currently envisaged that it will have 4 parts:
A. Understanding Place
B. Lifetime Neighbourhoods and Neighbourhood Planning
C. Play and Informal Recreation
D. Accessible London
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