Community walkability attributes are also bicycle-friendly attributes

Physical environments of neighbourhoods (particularly connectedness of streets and proximity of destinations), influence adults' walking: these attributes may also influence bicycle use. Guided by an ecological model of physical activity behaviour, we assessed adults' bicycle commuting, and bike riding within or from local neighbourhoods: 2,650 survey participants were recruited from 32 clusters of contiguous Census Collector's Districts in<br>Adelaide, selected for these potentially 'bicycle-friendly' attributes. Neighbourhoods were high walkable (top 25%) or low walkable (bottom 25%); and, high socio-economic status (top 25%) or low socio-economic status (bottom 25%). Neighbourhood-environment measures were from Geographic Information Systems databases; neighbourhood socio-economic indices from 2001 Census data; individual behaviour patterns, preferences and attitudes were assessed via mail-out surveys. Bicycle ownership was 60% overall, and did not vary by environmental and social attributes of the neighbourhoods. Overall, 13.8% reported that they used a bicycle at least once a week for transport, and 28.4% stated that they would use a bicycle regularly if they felt that they were safe from motor vehicles. Less than half as many women were bicycle users, compared to men (21% versus 9.4%); bicycle use was more common among younger than among older adults and among men with tertiary education (24.5%) than among those without (18%). Multilevel logistic regression analysis confirmed<br>our key hypothesis: that living in a high-walkable area was associated with significantly higher odds of bicycle use, when controlling for other relevant factors. These data are helpful elements of an evidence base for the planning and advocacy needed to promote bicycle use.<br>