Communities across the nation are doing more to ensure that streets, sidewalks, schools, and parks support walking, biking, and playing. This infographic highlights several studies which evaluated changes in physical activity after the implementation of built environment and programmatic modifications in different cities. For example, children are more likely to walk or bike to school when there are quality streets and crosswalks, and programs that promote safety; existence of bike lanes is related to higher rates of cycling; and the presence of recreational facilities close to home encourages more physical activity.

This infographic is also available in Spanish: Mejorar Comunidades Mueve A La Gente.

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Free, full text access to the four studies included in this infographic are available:

Sidewalks and Crosswalks (Stewart, et al): Multistate Evaluation of Safe Routes to School Programs

Walking School Bus (Mendoza, et al): The Walking School Bus and Children's Physical Activity: A Pilot Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

 Bike Lanes (Parker, et al): Effect of Bike Lane Infrastructure Improvements on Ridership in One New Orleans Neighborhood

Recreational Facilities (Cohen, et al): Impact and Cost-effectiveness of Family Fitness Zones: A Natural Experiment in Urban Public Parks