Background: In Bogotá chronic diseases and conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure are the leading causes of death. A recent review estimates that 20.1% of the deaths due to chronic diseases in the city may be attributable to physical inactivity. Despite the widely recognized
health benefits of physical activity, the majority of Bogotá adults are inactive (55.3%) and only 8.6 % engage regularly in physical activity during leisure time. In North American, Europe and Australia there is growing scientific evidence on how community design (CD) can influence physical activity and quality of life , but studies exploring these associations in developing countries are limited. In order to better understand these links in the context of Latin American cities, an interdisciplinary group of researchers from the disciplines of health and urban design conducted this study.
Over the last 15 years influential politicians and civic leaders in Bogotá, have promoted significant policy and community design changes that have implications for physical activity and quality of life. In this study objective measures of community design and transportation infrastructure are compared to levels of walking, cycling and quality of life. A qualitative analysis explored opinion leaders’ rationales and methods of policy change as well as the public’s response to these changes .

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1315 adults from Bogotá, measured PA using a standardized questionnaire that was validated with accelerometers. Community design characteristics were obtained from respondents’ perceptions of their environment and an objective Geographic Information System measured density, diversity, design, and distance to public transportation. Hierarchical linear modeling was used in the analysis.

Ciclovia/ Recreovia: On Sundays and Holidays, 118 Km of the city’s main streets are reserved for recreational and sports activities from 7a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, aerobics classes are provided at 19 different locations in the city.

Results
• Physical activity in leisure time: A perception of security and having parks in the neighborhoods are associated with more leisure time physical activity, while steep terrain reduces participation in leisure time physical activity.
• Ciclovia: Participation in Ciclovia is associated with social support and access to the roads used for the Ciclovia. Adults that have a car in the household or live in a neighborhood with larger parks reported less use of Ciclovia.
• Walking for transport: Walking for transport is associated with community design, including street density, connectivity and distance to bus stops.
• Use of a bicycle as a means of transport. Neighborhood pedestrian accidents rates, steep terrain and
having a car in the household are negatively associated with bicycle use.
• Quality of life: A higher density of parks and a moderate diversity of land uses (residential and commercial) are associated with better quality of life. Adults that participate in Ciclovia, engage in leisure time PA and who bike for transport report higher quality of life.
• Women were less likely to participate in Ciclovia, bike for transport, and meet recommendations for PA during leisure time.

Conclusions
To maintain and promote higher levels of physical activity, future community investments should ensure access to efficient public transit, parks and cycling paths. Communities with highly connected street networks, and safe walking and cycling routes will promote health enhancing physical activity. To increase transportation related physical activity, policy actions should be taken to reduce traffic accidents and improve public safety. Communities with a mix of housing work, shopping and parks will increase quality of life. The city should institute policies and actions to reduce the gender and environmental inequalities in physical activity and quality of life. Historical and qualitative policy analyses are in progress.
Recovery of public spaces:
Reclaiming space lost to cars and street vendors, redeveloping and connecting public plazas, sidewalks and parks for pedestrians has been a priority.
Cicloruta: Network of 291 km. of dedicated bike paths, designed to reduce vehicular congestion and air pollution.
Transmilenio: Rapid transit system consisting of a network of buses that use dedicated lanes and fixed stations.

*Partner institutions: Fundación FES Social, Universidad de los Andes, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, International Union for Health Promotion and Education, Pan American Health Organization, Corporación de Universidades del Centro de la Ciudad, Departamento de Catastro de Bogotá.
*Research Team: Luis Fernando Gómez, Robert Cervero, Enrique Jacoby, Olga Sarmiento, Andrea Neiman, Janeth Mosquera, Thomas Schmid, Michael Pratt, Mauricio Ardila, Diana Parra, José David Pinzón, Candance Rutt, John Duperly.

http://www.ourwar.org/articles/tag/transantiago

I hope you continue to write about Bogota. It seems like such a useful case for many Latin American cities.