Columbia, MO is a community that has been very successful at promoting active living among its citizens and provides a good location for researchers to determine what built environment enhancements can lead to increased physical activity. In addition to being a recipient of an Active Living by Design (ALbD) grant in 2003, Columbia has also been chosen as one of four cities in the country to receive a 5 year, $25 million Federal Highway Administration grant to construct a network of non-motorized transportation infrastructure facilities, including sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian and bicycle trails, that connect directly with transit stations, schools, residences, businesses, recreation areas, and other community activity centers. This ALR study will evaluate the Active Living by Design (ALbD) community intervention Bike, Walk, and Wheel: A Way of Life in Columbia (BW&W). The primary goal of the project will be to examine how effectively BW&W has: 1) fostered community partnerships among elected officials, policymakers, educators and leaders of community organizations; 2) promoted community awareness of the benefits of physical activity and the relationship of physical activity to health; 3) developed programs within specific regions of the community to increase physical activity among children and adolescents; 4) influenced public policy and community support for physical activity-promoting initiatives; and 5) fostered physical projects within the community to increase the physical activity behavior of children and adults community-wide.
