PONE-D-21-00324

Outdoor cycling activity affected by COVID-19 related epidemic-control-decisions

PLOS ONE

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Reviewers' comments:

Reviewer #1: This is an excellent project with useful novel information. The manuscript is well executed though I do have some suggestions for minor revisions below. My one significant suggestion is to incorporate some of the literate reporting how the pandemic may have affected physical activity and sedentary behavior in general. See my comments below.

Introduction

“The results were immense constraints for the private life of citizen…” pluralize citizen.

“Hence, in these days of the crisis, it seemed like people were searching for physical and emotional compensation in public green spaces” This sentence is confusing. You have provided evidence that people may have been seeking green space for physical activity. You have not made a case for this being done for emotional reasons. I don’t doubt that there may have been a psychological component to the increased use of green spaces but you have not made that point.

“With group sport activities prohibited, people may feel restricted to sedentary indoor activities, resulting in a lack of physical exercise associated with a higher risk of chronic diseases or worsening physical constitution” There is emerging evidence supporting the idea that the pandemic disrupted physical activity and increased sitting. I would encourage the following revision and cite the following papers “With group sport activities prohibited, people may feel restricted to sedentary indoor activities, resulting in a potential reductions in physical exercise and increased sitting associated with a higher risk of chronic diseases or worsening physical constitution”

• Barkley, J.E., A. Lepp, E. Glickman, G. Farnell, J. Beiting, R. Wiet, and B. Dowdell (2020) The Acute Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in University Students and Employees. International Journal of Exercise Science. 13(5): 1326-1339

• (1, 29, 33, 42, 43

• Ammar A, et al. On behalf of the eclb-covid19 consortium. Effects of covid-19 home confinement on eating behaviour and physical activity: Results of the eclb-covid19 international online survey. Nutrients 12(6):1583, 2020.

• López-Bueno R, Calatayud J, Andersen LL, Balsalobre-Fernández C, Casaña J, Casajús JA, Smith L, LópezSánchez GF. Immediate impact of the covid-19 confinement on physical activity levels in spanish adults. Sustainability 12(14):1-10, 2020

• Meyer J, McDowell C, Lansing J, Brower C, Smith L, Tully M, Herring M. Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviour due to the covid-19 outbreak and associations with mental health in 3,052 us adults. Cambridge Open Engage 2020

Discussion

“It may also reflect the larger amount of free time available to many people, resulting from reduced working hours [53], which increased…” I believe you mean “working hours which decreased…”

This section is well done. The only other suggestion I have is to incorporate some of the previous research examining the impact of the COVID pandemic upon physical activity. In the studies below there is evidence of increased sitting. However, the effects upon physical activity are not uniform. Some individuals decreased PA while others increased. Your findings may offer a mechanism through which this effect occurred. It may be those that increased PA were the same types of individuals who successfully transitioned from gyms and recreation centers to urban green spaces. I would encourage you to briefly incorporate this notion into your discussion.

• Barkley, J.E., A. Lepp, E. Glickman, G. Farnell, J. Beiting, R. Wiet, and B. Dowdell (2020) The Acute Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in University Students and Employees. International Journal of Exercise Science. 13(5): 1326-1339

• Meyer J, McDowell C, Lansing J, Brower C, Smith L, Tully M, Herring M. Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviour due to the covid-19 outbreak and associations with mental health in 3,052 us adults. Cambridge Open Engage 2020

Outdoor cycling activity affected by COVID-19 related epidemic-control-decisions

PONE-D-21-00324R1

Dear Dr. Schweizer,

We’re pleased to inform you that your manuscript has been judged scientifically suitable for publication and will be formally accepted for publication once it meets all outstanding technical requirements.

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Kind regards,

Pasquale Avino, Ph.D.

Academic Editor

PLOS ONE