Weather and Outdoor Physical Activity on Urban Greenways
Author Information
Author(s): Dana Wolff, Eugene C. Fitzhugh
Primary Institution: The University of Tennessee
Hypothesis
The study investigates the relationships between weather-related factors and daily outdoor physical activity counts on an urban greenway.
Conclusion
Weather-related factors significantly influence outdoor physical activity trail counts, with temperature, precipitation, and wind speed being key contributors.
Supporting Evidence
- The overall regression model explained 77.0% of the variance in daily physical activity.
- For every 1 °F increase in temperature, trail counts increased by 10.5 until peaking at 84 °F.
- Trail counts decreased by 70 for every inch of precipitation.
- Trail counts decreased by 1.92 for every 1 mph increase in max wind speed.
Takeaway
When it's nice outside, more people go out to play and exercise, but when it rains or gets too windy, fewer people go out.
Methodology
The study used an infrared trail counter to measure daily physical activity counts and collected weather data from an online source over a two-year period.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from the infrared counter's inability to accurately capture all trail users and the loss of data due to environmental conditions.
Limitations
The study's reliance on an infrared counter may underestimate actual trail use due to simultaneous users and environmental factors affecting data collection.
Participant Demographics
Participants were users of an urban greenway in Knoxville, TN, but specific demographic details were not provided.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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