A comprehensive evaluation of physical activity on sidewalks and streets in three U.S. Cities

A considerable proportion of outdoor physical activity (PA) is done on sidewalks/streets. The purpose of the current study was to create a comprehensive picture of PA and non-PA (sitting and standing) occurring on sidewalks/streets. A wearable video device was used to capture videos during 2019 in three different size (small, medium, large), U.S. cities along 24 observation routes (sidewalks/streets) located in 24 study areas that varied in walkability, income level, and minority composition. Videos were collected over the course of one year during different times of week and weekend days. Expert reviewers examined each video to extract data on counts of people engaged in different types of activities (e.g., walking) per minute of video. A total of 1154 individuals were described in 1237 min of video as either walking (66.9%), sitting/standing (25.7%), jogging (4.2%), cycling (1.8%) or skating/playing (1.4%). A greater number of active people/min were seen in the evening and in the small city (P < 0.05) while more non-PA people/min were observed in the medium city and during the weekend (P < 0.05). Active and non-PA people/min were associated with walkability, income, and minority composition. For instance, in high walkability, low income areas, 3.2 active people/min were observed in areas with a high percentage of non-minority residents compared to 0.9 active people /min in areas with a high percentage of minority residents. Sidewalks/street activities are related to dynamic interactions between social and physical environmental factors. The results of this study may serve as a reference to which future, similar evaluations can compare.