Chance or Strategy? Assessing the Unanticipated Policy Window for Active Transportation During the COVID-19 Pandemic:...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Urban Planning
• Policy Science

Background:

• Physical activity (PA) policy is crucial for population health, requiring cross-sector collaboration.
• Global health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can create opportune moments for policy innovation and implementation.
• Active transportation (AT) policies are vital for promoting PA and adapting urban environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how policy windows during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the development and implementation of active transportation (AT) policies.
• To assess the resulting infrastructural changes and their impact on population-level physical activity.
• To identify enablers and challenges associated with AT policy implementation during a public health emergency.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of scientific literature published between 2020 and 2023 was conducted.
• Databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, WHO COVID-19 Research Database, and others.
• Descriptive analyses were performed using Stata, with PROSPERO registration CRD42025644930.

Main Results:

• The review identified 14 studies detailing AT policy changes during the pandemic.
• Significant infrastructural modifications, including new bicycle lanes and pedestrian zones, were observed.
• Policies often facilitated utilitarian PA and offered mobility alternatives during the pandemic, though many were temporary.

Conclusions:

• The pandemic demonstrated that urgency and political will can rapidly advance AT policies and urban infrastructure.
• Swift implementation of AT policies during health emergencies can effectively promote utilitarian physical activity.
• Understanding local contexts is key for the sustainable integration of AT initiatives in urban planning.