The closer you live to an urban greenway, the more physically active you are, says UBC study

Being physically active is good for us, we know that. And a new study from the University of British Columbia shows that the closer you live to an urbangreenway, the more physically active you are.

UBC researchers surveyed people living near Vancouver's Comox-Helmcken Greenway,the year before and after its completion in 2013.

The greenway is a two-kilometre pathway used by cyclists and pedestriansthat extends from Stanley Park to the False Creek Seawall. Some blocksalong the route permitcars.

Thestudy, conducted by The Health and Community Design Lab at the University of British Columbia,was commissioned by the City of Vancouver as a way to evaluatethe construction offuture greenways. The reportsays it'sthe first of its kind to show thehealth benefits of urban greenways for city residents.

About half of the 585 participants lived within 300 metres of the greenway, and the rest were within a 500-metre radius.

The research showed that residents living closest to the greenway doubled their odds of completing 20minutes of physical activity a day, and almost halved the odds of being sedentary for nine hours a day.

The report's author, Dr. Lawrence Frank, said the results show that urban infrastructure such asdedicated greenways, which promote active lifestyles, are good for overall public health.

"This is what's so exciting about it," saidFrank, a professor in transportation and health at UBC'S School of Population and Public Health.

"We show the effects of the results are really only borne by those [living]closest to it."

Participants in the study ranged in age from 21 to 90. They logged their activity in a travel diary and then uploaded the information onto the study's web portal.

The study concludes that the money invested in urban greenwayshasmore far-reaching outcomes thansimply increasing physical activity.

"Comox cost $5.5 million, yet the anticipated health care cost savings from reduced chronic disease is likely many times greater," said Frank.

The City of Vancouver says it is working toward a goal of having greenway space within a25-minute walk or a 10 minute bike ride of every residence.