Table 1.
Summary of characteristics of natural experiment studies examining physical activity after transit interventions (n = 5). Studies systematically reviewed (May–July 2017).
| Author, year | Chang et al. (2017) | Hong et al. (2016) | Huang et al. (2017) | Miller et al. (2015) | Panter et al. (2016) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City, country | Mexico City, MX | Los Angeles, US | Seattle, US | Salt Lake City, US | Cambridge, UK |
| Transit interventiona | BRT - new line, 18 new stations | LRT - 6 new stations | LRT - new line, 13 new stations | LRT - new line, 5 new stations | BRT - new network |
| Parallel intervention(s)b | – | Landscaping & bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure | – | Complete Street & trail | Shared-use path |
| Study design | Repeated cross-sectional without control group | Longitudinal with control group | Longitudinal with control group determined retrospectivelyc | Longitudinal with control group determined retrospectivelyd | Longitudinal without control group |
| Scale | 500 m | 800 m | 1.6 km | 2 km | 30 kme |
| Sampling | Household | Household | Household | Household | Workplace |
| Study initiation (first year) | 2011 | 2011 | 2008 | 2012 | 2009 |
| Study duration (years) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| N (time 1) | 1067 | 143f | 276 f | 939f | 1143 |
| N (time 2) | 1420 | 73 | 198 | 536 | 469 |
| Percent female (at baseline) | 51% for post-test; 50% for pre-test | 79% for intervention; 70% for controls | 63% | 51% | 66.5% |
| Population | Adults 18–59 | Adults 16+ | Adults 18+ | Adults 18+ | Adults 16+ |
| Outcome measurement | Surveyg | Accelerometry | Accelerometry | Accelerometry | Surveyh |
| Calculated mean difference in transportation physical activity (min/week) (SD) | 27.4 (126.9)i | – | 4.9 (86.4)j | 0.3 (37.5)j, k | −10.5 (230.1)k |
| Calculated mean difference in total physical activity (min/week) (SD) | −114.2 (247.4)i | 14.7 (397.3)k, l | −137.2 (632.3)j | 5.1 (147.1)j, k | −166.0 (478.6)k |
Transit interventions were either Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or Light Rail Transit (LRT). To be included they must be along fixed guideway (separated from road traffic).
Parallel interventions are additional built environment changes that may influence physical activity, as mentioned in the study.
During analysis this study created a “control” group retrospectively based on distance to transit.
During analyses this study created a “control” group retrospectively based on transit use.
Participants were selected based on workplace, but their residences had to be within 30 km of the city.
Unclear how many of initial participants had outcome data, often reported only sample size for complete data for both time points.
Measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).
Measure using the Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire (RPAQ).
Walking and cycling added together.
Scaled from daily to weekly.
Summing groups.
Computed from MVPA minutes.