Systematic Observation of Physical Distancing Behaviors of Trail Users During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Thomas Bias; Shay M Daily; Christiaan G Abildso; Heather Venrick; Elizabeth Shay; Samantha I Moyers; Adam Hege; Vaike Haas; Angela Dyer; Robert Broce; Richard W Christiana

Systematic Observation of Physical Distancing Behaviors of Trail Users During the COVID-19 Pandemic

J Healthy Eat Act Living. 2021 Sep 1;1(3):121-127. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ West Virginia University, School of Public Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.A.
² West Virginia University, Office of Health Affairs, Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.A.
³ Appalachian State University, Beaver College of Health Sciences, Boone, North Carolina, U.S.A.
⁴ Appalachian State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Boone, North Carolina, U.S.A.
⁵ West Virginia University, Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design, Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.A.

PMID: 37799192
PMCID: PMC10550034

Abstract

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities for indoor and sometimes outdoor recreation were restricted across the world. Despite restrictions, many greenways and rail-trails saw increased use. Messaging from the federal and state public health authorities stressed the importance of social distancing and other preventive measures in reducing spread of the coronavirus. Little is known about actual behaviors of individuals and groups using these outdoor recreational opportunities. This study used passive infrared cameras to systematically observe physical distancing behaviors on multi-user trails in Boone, North Carolina, and Morgantown, West Virginia, to assess safety implications of trail use during June 2020. Most interactions (72.2%) occurred with the recommended six feet of distance between users. Maintaining six feet of distance is more likely to occur when a single individual passes another single individual (88.2%), users pass while traveling in opposite directions (75.9%), and trails are wider (76.8% on 12 ft width trail vs. 62.6% on a 10 ft width trail). Messaging on multi-user trails should target how groups pass other groups, such as "keep six feet" and "pass single file."

Keywords: built environment; greenways; rail-trails; social distancing.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by an internal grant from the Office of Research, Appalachian State University, and funding from the Health Research Center, West Virginia University.