New PATHS: Impacts of New Protected Trail on Physical Activity, Active Transportation, and Cycling Traffic in Selkirk, MB
This study investigates how building a new urban trail in Selkirk, Manitoba, affects physical activity and cycling habits, especially among youth. The trail, a separated multi-use path, will be accessible to over 20 neighbourhoods, with six schools having direct access to the new trail. We will measure changes in community activity levels by collecting information on daily physical activity, number of cyclists, and the number of students biking to school.
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We are asking residents of Selkirk to complete surveys about their neighbourhood and physical activity activity habits, and if possible, submit some of the activity information gathered using their own fitness trackers. We have also partnered with the City of Selkirk to install Eco-counters — devices that automatically and anonymously count cyclists as they pass.
All of this research involves anonymized information. For questions regarding privacy and how we use the data, please contact us at our email, urbantrails@chrim.ca.
This study is important to the lab for multiple reasons; we have lab members who are Selkirk residents, who can be seen cycling around town frequently, and it also serves as the Master's thesis project for one of our graduate students. The study will not only teach us the impacts that new urban trails have on populations, but it will serve as a guiding tool for city planners and municipal governments of the future, in addition to being a learning opportunity for the younger members of our lab in how to properly perform scientific research and partner with community members and organizations.