Associations between the built and social environment and bike share, physical activity, and overall cycling among adults from Boston neighborhoods

Despite research documenting associations between the built environment and both transport and recreational physical activity in adults, studies that simultaneously examine the social and built environment in relation to these behaviors are limited. The Boston Panel Study (Beacon) is a probability-based panel survey of adult residents implemented in 2018. We tested independent and interactive cross-sectional relationships between GIS-derived built environment variables in 1-km and 2-km buffers, perceived social control and social cohesion, and bike share use, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and overall bicycling among 791 respondents. Bike share station and population density had significant positive associations with bike share use and overall cycling in unadjusted regression models only. In models that adjusted for demographics, self-rated health, and social environmental factors, greenness and density of park space within 1-km and 2-km buffers were negatively associated with bike share use. Intersection, population, multi-use trail, bicycle lane, and bike station densities were all positively associated with minutes of physical activity (p < 0.05), whereas greenness showed a negative association (p < 0.05). Social control and social cohesion were not associated with bike share use, overall cycling, or physical activity, nor did they show significant interactions with the built environment. Several built environment variables had significant associations with bike share use and physical activity but not with overall bicycling. Social environmental factors were not related to either transport or recreational physical activity. Despite these findings the joint investigation of built and social environmental factors in relation to transport and recreational forms of physical activity warrants further research in diverse populations and settings. Consistent with a social ecological framework, more effective promotion of bike share, cycling, and overall physical activity may need to incorporate strategies targeting both the social and built environment.