Abstract
Introduction: Cycling is an accessible, cheap way of incorporating health-promoting physical activity into everyday routines. One approach to facilitate engagement is to provide cycles through population-level approaches, such as commercial bike share schemes. However, these may increase health inequalities. An alternative is delivering cycle provision through not-for-profit and targeted schemes. However, there is a lack of peer-reviewed evidence on what comprises successful design and implementation.
Methods: An evaluation of two not-for-profit cycle provision schemes in Norfolk, England, is conducted: The Cycle Loan Scheme (CLS) aimed at the general population, and Welcome Wheels (WW) for refugees/asylum seekers. Quantitative measures assess the extent to which the schemes recruited and engaged groups of need (non-cyclists, women, over 55 years-of-age, living in deprived areas, not White British). Baseline and follow-up surveys established cycling frequency (absolute and change), and motivators, benefits, and barriers to taking part. Responses were compared across groups of need.
Results: At baseline, 87% of the 613 CLS participants were from a group of need, whilst 100% of WW participants (n=214) were. At follow-up, CLS participants (n=413) reported cycling a median of 5.5 hours a week (15 reported zero hours), an increase of 3.5 hours from baseline. Non-cyclists were less likely to engage than cyclists. WW participants (n=65) cycled a median five days per week at follow-up (all reported some cycling), an increase for 92%. Females were less likely to engage than males; all non-cyclists increased their cycling compared to 44% existing cyclists. Benefits of and barriers to engagement varied according to group of need.
Conclusions: Cycle provision schemes have potential to reduce health inequalities by encouraging cycling, particularly when tailored to need and local context, and when interventions are delivered by non-profit, community embedded organisations.
Application: A novel intervention framework is proposed to guide targeted interventions.
Methods: An evaluation of two not-for-profit cycle provision schemes in Norfolk, England, is conducted: The Cycle Loan Scheme (CLS) aimed at the general population, and Welcome Wheels (WW) for refugees/asylum seekers. Quantitative measures assess the extent to which the schemes recruited and engaged groups of need (non-cyclists, women, over 55 years-of-age, living in deprived areas, not White British). Baseline and follow-up surveys established cycling frequency (absolute and change), and motivators, benefits, and barriers to taking part. Responses were compared across groups of need.
Results: At baseline, 87% of the 613 CLS participants were from a group of need, whilst 100% of WW participants (n=214) were. At follow-up, CLS participants (n=413) reported cycling a median of 5.5 hours a week (15 reported zero hours), an increase of 3.5 hours from baseline. Non-cyclists were less likely to engage than cyclists. WW participants (n=65) cycled a median five days per week at follow-up (all reported some cycling), an increase for 92%. Females were less likely to engage than males; all non-cyclists increased their cycling compared to 44% existing cyclists. Benefits of and barriers to engagement varied according to group of need.
Conclusions: Cycle provision schemes have potential to reduce health inequalities by encouraging cycling, particularly when tailored to need and local context, and when interventions are delivered by non-profit, community embedded organisations.
Application: A novel intervention framework is proposed to guide targeted interventions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 101391 |
| Journal | Journal of Transport and Health |
| Volume | 26 |
| Early online date | 21 May 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 2022 |
Keywords
- Health inequalities
- cycling
- active travel
- Behavior change interventions
- bike share
- Intervention
- Cycling
- Active travel
- Bike share
- Behaviour change intervention