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A Citizen Science Approach to Determine Physical Activity Patterns and Demographics of Greenway Users in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Author

Listed:
  • Joshua R. Dilley

    (Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA)

  • Justin B. Moore

    (Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
    Department of Implementation Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
    Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA)

  • Phillip Summers

    (Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Program in Community Engagement, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA)

  • Amanda A. Price

    (Department of Exercise Physiology, Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC 27110, USA)

  • Matthew Burczyk

    (City of Winston-Salem Department of Transportation, NC 27101, USA)

  • Lynn Byrd

    (Citizen Scientist, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA)

  • Patricia J. Sisson

    (Citizen Scientist, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA)

  • Alain G. Bertoni

    (Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA)

Abstract

Citizen science is a growing method of scientific discovery and community engagement. To date, there is a paucity of data using citizen scientists to monitor community level physical activity, such as bicycling or walking; these data are critical to inform community level intervention. Volunteers were recruited from the local community to make observations at five local greenways. The volunteers picked their location, time to collect data and duration of data collection. Volunteer observations included recording estimated age, race or ethnicity and activity level of each individual they encountered walking, running or bicycling on the greenway. A total of 102 volunteers were recruited to participate in the study, of which 60% completed one or more observations. Average observational time lasted 81 minutes and resulted in recording the demographics and physical activity of a mean of 48 people per session. The majority of adult bicyclists observed were biking at a moderate pace (86%) and were white (72%) males (62%). Similar results were observed for those walking. We demonstrate the feasibility of using citizen scientists to address the current scarcity of data describing community-level physical activity behavior patterns. Future work should focus on refining the citizen science approach for the collection of physical activity data to inform community-specific interventions in order to increase greenway use.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua R. Dilley & Justin B. Moore & Phillip Summers & Amanda A. Price & Matthew Burczyk & Lynn Byrd & Patricia J. Sisson & Alain G. Bertoni, 2019. "A Citizen Science Approach to Determine Physical Activity Patterns and Demographics of Greenway Users in Winston-Salem, North Carolina," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-11, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:17:p:3150-:d:261997
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pucher, J. & Buehler, R., 2016. "Safer cycling through improved infrastructure," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(12), pages 2089-2091.
    2. Anthony G. Tuckett & Abbey Freeman & Sharon Hetherington & Paul A. Gardiner & Abby C. King & On behalf of Burnie Brae Citizen Scientists, 2018. "Older Adults Using Our Voice Citizen Science to Create Change in Their Neighborhood Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, November.
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    1. Megan B. Irby & Keena R. Moore & Lilli Mann-Jackson & DeWanna Hamlin & Isaiah Randall & Phillip Summers & Joseph A. Skelton & Stephanie S. Daniel & Scott D. Rhodes, 2021. "Community-Engaged Research: Common Themes and Needs Identified by Investigators and Research Teams at an Emerging Academic Learning Health System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-14, April.

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