Translating evidence to policy: urban interventions and physical activity promotion in Bogotá, Colombia and Curitiba, Brazil

Abstract

The growing evidence of the influence of urban environment on physical activity (PA) underscore the need for novel policy solutions to address the inequality, lack of space, and limited PA resources in rapidly growing Latin American cities. This study aims to better understand the PA policy process by conducting two case studies of Bogotá's Ciclovía and Curitiba's CuritibAtiva. Literature review of peer-and non-peer-reviewed documents and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders was conducted. In the cases of Ciclovía and CuritibAtiva, most policies conducive to program development and sustainability were developed outside the health sector in sports and recreation, urban planning, environment, and transportation. Both programs were developed by governments as initiatives to overcome inequalities and provide quality of life. In both programs, multisectoral policies mainly from recreation and urban planning created a window of opportunity for the development and sustainability of the programs and environments supportive of PA.

The Ciclovia and Cicloruta Programs: Promising Interventions to Promote Physical Activity and Social Capital in Bogotá, Colombia

“…25,34 There is growing evidence of the impact of policies and environmental interventions to promote PA and other health-related and social benefits. But few studies have explored the potential outcomes of the Ciclovia and Cicloruta programs in Bogotá, 4,5,10 and none have compared the users of the 2 programs to better understand how the programs function, influence various aspects of the city, and can be enhanced. The purpose of this study was to characterize the Ciclovia and Cicloruta participants and compare the programs to explore how program participation is related to PA, safety perception, SC, and equity.…”

“…5,6 Evidence suggests that the implementation of strategies to enhance built and social environments is essential to effectively increase PA and to improve health and quality of life. 7,8 Bogotá has been recognized for the implementation of policies and built environment changes that have increased access to recreational programs, as well as for promoting public transportation and active commuting.…”

“…10,11 THE CICLOVIA AND CICLORUTA PROGRAMS The Ciclovia program is a community-based program in which streets are temporarily closed to motorized vehicles to allow exclusive access for pedestrians, cyclists, skaters, and others for active recreation. 10 Currently, Ciclovia involves a circuit of 121 kilometers (75 miles) of main avenues, 5 which are closed every Sunday and holiday (72 events per year, from 7 AM to 2 PM). 10 Estimates suggest that there are 600 000 to 1 400 000 participants each Sunday.…”

Social conditions and urban environment associated with participation in the Ciclovia program among adults from Cali, Colombia

“…In the urban context of Latin America, characterized by social fragmentation and inequalities in opportunities to engage in leisure time physical activity, the Ciclovia program (CP) has emerged as an effective initiative to promote active living 9,10,11 . This initiative is characterized by closing avenues or secondary streets to motor vehicles on Sundays and public holidays, and allowing only recreational activities, such as walking and bicycling 11 .…”

“…This initiative is characterized by closing avenues or secondary streets to motor vehicles on Sundays and public holidays, and allowing only recreational activities, such as walking and bicycling 11 . In the last 10 years the number of Latin American cities with the CP has increased particularly in Peru, Colombia and Mexico 12 .…”