Promoting physical activity among children and adults is a priority national health objective in the United States. Regular physical activity lowers the risk of chronic diseases and is an important strategy for reversing the obesity epidemic.
Promoting physical activity among children and adults is a priority national health objective in the United States. Regular physical activity lowers the risk of chronic diseases and is an important strategy for reversing the obesity epidemic. A growing body of evidence shows that the built environment can positively influence physical activity for both recreational and transportation purposes. Broadly defined, the built environment includes the man-made surroundings that provide settings for physical activity, such as neighborhoods, streets, public transportation systems, commercial centers, schools, parks, trails and other outdoor recreational spaces.
Trails are commonly used for physical activity. A study conducted in the United States in 2006 indicated that about one-quarter of adult men and women used a walking, hiking or bicycling trail at least once per week.
Currently, no data are available on trail use by children and adolescents. However, another U.S. study, also conducted in 2006, showed that the percentage of park area close to homes, such as spaces that included nature trails and bicycle paths, was associated with higher levels of physical activity among young children.
The Rails to Trails Conservancy estimates that the United States has 19,000 miles of rail-trails—trails built along former rail lines—and more than 1,100 trail projects under development.
Trails help connect people of all ages to the places they live, work and play, and they provide an ideal setting for walking, bicycling and other modes of recreational physical activity and active transportation. Community trails are diverse in character and may include paved and unpaved trails, rail-trails, short circular walking paths around schools and workplaces, and trails within parks.
This brief highlights findings about specific trail characteristics that appear to attract regular users and examines how trails influence physical activity among various populations.
Why Trails Matter: Trails and Greenways Promote Health
posted Feb 1, 2024
Trails and greenways create healthy recreation and transportation opportunities by providing people of all ages with attractive, safe, accessible and low- or no-cost places to cycle, walk, hike, jog or skate.
STEP IT UP! The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities
posted Jan 22, 2024
The Call to Action provides strategies that communities can use to support walking, which we hope will result in long-lasting changes to improve the health and health care of Americans today and of the generations that follow.
Parks, Trails, and Health Workbook
posted Dec 29, 2023
Consider this workbook as a starting point. Every project is different. This workbook is intended as a guide to be adapted for specific situations.
posted Dec 29, 2023
Call it walking. Call it hiking. Seldom has something so much fun also turned out to be so good for us!
562 views • posted 09/30/2020