Table 1

Baseline characteristics of participants in the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) 

VariablesTotal (n = 52)EG (n = 27)CG (n = 25)p
Gender % (n)
Male46.2 % (24)55.6% (15)36 % (9).16
Female53.8 % (28)44.4 % (12)64 % (16)
Age (x̄ ± SD)30.6 ±  9.9431.04 ±  9.2030.12 ±  10.85.57
Role % (n)
Students42.3 % (22)37 % (10)48 % (12).42
Staff57.7 % (30)63 % (17)52 % (13)
Residential setting
Rural9.6 % (5)3.7 % (1)16 % (4).13
Urban90.4 % (47)93.3 % (26)84 % (21)
Car ownership % (n)
Yes80.8 % (42)77.8 % (21)84 % (21).57
No19.2 % (10)22.2 % (6)16 % (4)
Bicycle ownership % (n)
Yes84.6 % (44)96.3 % (26)72 % (18).01**
No15.4 % (8)3.7 % (1)28 % (7)
Self-rated health % (n)
Excellent28.8 % (15)37 % (10)20 % (5).38
Good61.5 % (32)55.6 % (15)68 % (17)
Fair9.6 % (5)7.4 % (2)12 % (3)
PALs  (METs) (x̄ ± SD)
Total4786.3 ± 3036.55224.2 ± 3767.24313.5 ± 1941.7.72
Vigorous 1438.5 ± 1380.61484.4 ± 1610.01388.8 ± 1112.3.93
Moderate790.4 ± 863.31039.3 ± 1074.3521.6 ± 434.1.06
Walking2557.5 ± 1590.22700.5 ± 1853.92403.1 ± 1265.8.81
Sedentary behavior (hours)  (x̄ ± SD)8.2 ± 3.18.3 ± 3.88.2 ± 2.2.98
Regular mode of commuting
Active61.5 % (32)81.5 % (22)40 % (10).002**
Passive38.5 % (20)18.5 % (5)60 % (15)
Mode of commuting to university
Active 25 % (13)44.4 % (12)4 % (1)<.001***
Passive75 % (39)55.6 % (15)96 % (24)
Purpose of bicycle use
Non-users28.8 % (15)3.7 % (1)56 % (14)<.001***
Commuters32.7 % (17)55.6 % (15)8 % (2)
Sport17.3 % (9)25.9 % (7)8 % (2)
Leisure21.2 % (11)14.8 % (4)28 % (7)
Frequency of bicycle use
Almost or every day13.5 % (7)22.2 % (6)4 % (1)<.001***
3–4/week23.1 % (12)37 % (10)8 % (2)
1–2/week9.6 % (5)14.8 % (4)4 % (1)
On weekends9.6 % (5)11.1 % (3)8 % (2)
Once a month15.4 % (8)11.1 % (3)20 % (5)
Non-users28.8 % (15)3.7 % (1)56 % (14)
Note. x̄ = = mean; SD = standard deviation; EG = experimental group; CG = control group; METs = metabolic equivalents of task. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square for categorical variables and the Mann–Whitney U test for continuous variables. Statistical significance was set at: p < .05 (*), p < .01 (**) and p < .001 (***).