NCT03131518

From Cars to Bikes - the Feasibility and Effect of Bicycling for Transportation Among Parents of Toddlers

Completed NA Last updated 29 June 2018

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Access to an e-bicycle with trailer in Bicycling Distance in 36 participants. Completed in 25 June 2018.

Timeline

2 June 2017

Primary endpoint
25 June 2018

25 June 2018

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	University of Agder
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	randomized
Design	crossover
Masking	none
Primary purpose	basic science
Enrollment	36
Start date	2 June 2017
Primary completion	25 June 2018
Estimated completion	25 June 2018
Sites	1 location across Norway

Drugs / interventions tested

• Access to an e-bicycle with trailer
• Access to a longtail bicycle
• Access to a traditional bike with trailer

Conditions studied

• Bicycling Distance — all drugs for Bicycling Distance →
• Bicycling Time — all drugs for Bicycling Time →
• Physical Activity Level — all drugs for Physical Activity Level →
• Cardiorespratory Fitness — all drugs for Cardiorespratory Fitness →

Sponsor

University of Agder

Who can join

Adults 18 to 67, any sex, with Bicycling Distance or Bicycling Time. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

There is a need for a greater understanding of e-bikes and their role in the transportation network, and further effects on physical activity (PA) levels and health. Moreover, longtail bikes could meet certain practical needs not sufficiently fulfilled by e-bikes or traditional bikes, hence increased knowledge regarding their potential and feasibility should be obtained. No intervention study has investigated whether providing an e-bike or a longtail bike over an extended period in a sample of inactive parents of toddlers influence objectively assessed amount of cycling, total PA level, potential mode shifts, and effect on cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition and blood pressure.

Objectives:

To assess the effect of an intervention where participants have access to an e-bike (including a trailer), a longtail bike and a traditional bike (including a trailer) on the following parameters:

1. Objectively assessed amount of biking, total levels of PA, and mode shifts from car/motorized modes to bicycle.
2. Cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure, body composition, self-reported health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
3. Experiences with bicycling (el/longtail/traditional) and intrinsic motivation for bicycling.
4. How season and weather conditions influence the amount of bicycling (el/longtail/traditional).

Study sample:

A convenience sample consisting of 36 inactive parents of toddlers will be recruited among residents in Kristiansand municipality, Southern Norway.

Measures:

The following measures will be conducted:

1. A web-based questionnaire will assess socio-demographics (at baseline only), transportation habits, self-perceived health and HRQoL, and motivation for bicycling for transportation. For the intervention group: at baseline and post all intervention arms, i.e. four times. For the control group: at baseline and after 9 months, i.e. two times.
2. Cycling time and distance will be assessed through usage of a cycle computer throughout the entire project period, in total nine months.
3. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) will be estimated with the monitor SenseWear Armband Mini (SWA) for seven consecutive days at study start and after 9 months (post-intervention).
4. Cardiorespiratory fitness will be measured performing treadmill walking/running, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) will be used for assessing body composition. In addition, blood pressure, body weight and height (height only at baseline) will be measured at baseline and after 9 months (post-intervention).
5. Participants' experiences with and motivation for usage of the different bicycle types will be explored in semi-structured focus group interviews after 3 months, 6 months and 9 months.
6. Weather data (temperature, rainfall, snow, etc.) will also be collected.

Scientific contribution:

The present study will add knowledge to relevant and topical areas, i.e. issues related to public health and environmental sustainability, among parents of toddlers, representing an important target group.There is a call for research on the influence of e-bikes on travel behavior and level of MVPA, and whether voluntary cycling with e-bikes could improve health. Moreover, to our knowledge no scientific studies have assessed possible effects of using a longtail bike, on the selected parameters. If the current study reveals promising results, it should be replicated in a larger and more representative sample of parents of toddlers, as well as in other important target groups (e.g. older adults). If findings are positive, inclusion in national public health policies should be considered.

Publications & conference data

3 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. From cars to bikes - The effect of an intervention providing access to different bike types: A randomized controlled trial.
   Bjørnarå HB, Berntsen S, J Te Velde S, Fyhri A, et al · · 2019 · cited 10× · PMID 31291314 · DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0219304
2. From cars to bikes - the feasibility and effect of using e-bikes, longtail bikes and traditional bikes for transportation among parents of children attending kindergarten: design of a randomized cross-over trial.
   Bjørnarå HB, Berntsen S, Te Velde SJ, Fegran L, et al · · 2017 · cited 9× · PMID 29282108 · DOI 10.1186/s12889-017-4995-z
3. Cumbersome but desirable-Breaking the code of everyday cycling.
   Bjørnarå HB, Westergren T, Fegran L, Te Velde SJ, et al · · 2020 · cited 5× · PMID 32925959 · DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0239127