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Related Experiment Videos

Observing physical activity in suburbs.

Richard R Suminski1, Jessica Fritzsinger, Tina Leck

  • 1Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, 468 SEP, Kansas City, MO 64106, USA. rsuminski@kcumb.edu

Health & Place
|February 12, 2008
PubMed
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The block walk method (BWM) reliably assesses physical activity on suburban streets. This observational technique accurately records walking, jogging, and bicycling, proving effective for urban research.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Urban Planning
  • Observational Research Methods

Background:

  • Accurate measurement of physical activity is crucial for public health research and urban planning.
  • Existing methods for observing physical activity may have limitations in suburban settings.
  • The block walk method (BWM) is a potential tool for assessing physical activity in these environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the reliability of the block walk method (BWM) for observing physical activity on suburban sidewalks and streets.
  • To determine the accuracy of BWM in recording activity type and the number of individuals engaged in physical activity.

Main Methods:

  • Trained observers conducted simultaneous walks along 40 predetermined sidewalk/street segments (1525 m each) at a consistent pace (30.5 m/min).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Observers recorded the type of physical activity (walking, jogging, bicycling) and the specific address where each activity occurred.
  • Data on observed activities and agreements between observers were analyzed to assess reliability.

    • Main Results:

    • Physical activity was observed at 2.9% of the 1020 addresses encountered.
    • A total of 41 individuals were observed walking, 4 jogging, and 3 bicycling over 400 observation minutes.
    • High agreement rates were achieved: 80% for address, 90% for activity type, and 86.7% for the number of individuals.

    Conclusions:

    • The block walk method (BWM) demonstrates high reliability for assessing physical activity on suburban sidewalks and streets.
    • BWM is a viable and accurate observational tool for researchers studying physical activity patterns in suburban environments.
    • The findings support the use of BWM in future public health and urban planning studies focused on physical activity.