Assessing the Impact of a New Urban Greenway Using Mobile, Wearable Technology-Elicited Walk- and Bike-Along Interviews

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality, causing an estimated 3.3 million deaths worldwide. Characteristics of built environment, including buildings, public spaces, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, transportation networks, parks, trails green spaces can facilitate or constrain physical activity. However, objective study environment interventions on activity remains challenging due to methodological limitations research gaps. Existing methods such as direct observations surveys are time labour intensive, only provide a static, cross-sectional view at specific point in time. The aim this was develop novel method objectively inexpensively assessing how changes may influence We used novel, unobtrusive capture real-time, situ data from convenience sample 25 adults along newly constructed urban greenway area high deprivation Belfast, UK. Walk/bike-along interviews were conducted with participants using body-worn bicycle-mounted portable digital video camera (GoPro HERO 3+ camera) record their self-determined journeys greenway. This first demonstrate feasibility wearable sensors participants’ responses real-time during walking journeys. These findings contribute our understanding impact real-world environmental importance precise, accurate measurements environments where occurs.