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Few studies have evaluated environmental changes to promote physical activity. The impact of a local promotional campaign around a newly constructed Rail Trail in western Sydney, Australia, was assessed.Pre and post-campaign telephone surveys were used. Adults 18-55 years of age were randomly sampled from an "inner" area, residents withinor =1.5 km of the Trail, and an "outer" area, bike-owners only, 1.5-5 km from the Trail. Objective concurrent monitoring of daily bike counts was carried out.A cohort of 450 completed both interviews. A significant increase (+2.9%, McNemar P0.05) in unprompted Trail awareness was detected but post-campaign awareness was low (34%). Inner cyclists, males, and those recalling any baseline bike promotion messages were more likely to be aware of the Trail. Trail usage was higher among bike-owners than pedestrians (8.9 vs 3.3%, P = 0.014) and was moderated by proximity to the Trail. Inner cyclists increased mean cycling time by 0.19 h (SD = 1.5) while outer cyclists decreased cycling time (-0.24 h, SD = 1.6). Mean daily bike counts in the monitored areas increased significantly after the Trail launch (OR = 1.35, P = 0.0001, and OR = 1.23, P = 0.0004).The campaign reached and influenced cyclists in the inner area. For further increase in Trail usage promotional and educational programs focusing on walking for inner residents are needed.

Background. This paper describes the study design, recruitment, measurement, and initial recruitment outcomes of Australia's largest workplace intervention trial, the National Workplace Health Project. Methods. This was a cluster-randomized trial of socio-behavioral and environmental interventions focusing on key behaviors of physical activity, healthy food choices, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption, as well as motivational readiness for change. Twenty worksites were randomized separately for each intervention using a two-by-two factorial design. All participants underwent a health risk appraisal and measurements were made at baseline and at 1 and 2 years. Results. The overall response rate for the baseline survey was 73% with 61% attending the health risk appraisal. The sample was predominantly male, English-speaking, married, blue-collar workers. Overall, 12% reported unsafe alcohol consumption, 26% were current smokers, 44% were physically inactive, 74% ate at most one piece of fruit per day, and 26% ate at most one serving of vegetables per day. Intervention and control conditions were similar at baseline for the primary outcomes, except that a higher proportion of the sociobehavioral intervention condition was more physically active (59%) than the corresponding control condition (53%). Conclusions. This study will permit the rigorous evaluation of the efficacy of sociobehavioral and environ mental intervention approaches to workplace health promotion. Although participants were randomized by worksite, intervention and control conditions were similar at baseline; any differences in the primary out come variables will be controlled for in the analysis.