Effects of an urban cable car intervention on quality of life: an observational, quasi-experimental study in Bogotá, Colombia (TrUST)

Abstract

Background: There is little evidence about the relationships between transport interventions and quality of life in low-income settlements in Global South cities. The aim was to assess the effects of the TransMiCable cable car intervention on quality of life in males and females in a low-income settlement in Bogotá, Colombia.

Methods: The Urban Transformations and Health (TrUST) natural experiment was conducted between 2018 and 2020 in intervention and control neighbourhoods. Overall quality of life, general health, and specific domains of quality of life were assessed in adults before and after the implementation of the TransMiCable using the World Health Organization's quality of life brief questionnaire. Adjusted multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate the effects on outcomes.

Findings: Before the inauguration of TransMiCable, 2052 participants (1289 [62.8%] females and 763 [37.2%] males; mean age 43.5 years [SD 17.7]) completed the questionnaire. Analyses included 825 participants in the intervention group (80% of the baseline sample) and 854 participants in the control group (84% of the baseline sample) who completed the follow-up. Among females in the intervention area, there was an increase in quality of life (adjusted β for the time-by-group interaction, intervention vs. control: 5.81 points [95% CI: 2.47, 9.14]), and general health (adjusted β for the time-by-group interaction: 5.49 points [2.07, 8.92). Among males, quality of life and general health changes were not different in the intervention and control groups.

Interpretation: Transport interventions, such as TransMiCable, could have meaningful impacts on the quality of life of women in low-income areas, promoting the achievement of sustainable development goals and improving well-being. A community-based, multisectoral approach is essential to designing integrated mobility policies that reflect the diverse needs of urban communities in the Global South.

Funding: Wellcome Trust (as part of the Urban Health in Latin America project); Bogotá Urban Planning Department; Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation of Colombia; Universidad de Los Andes; Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá; and Universidad del Norte.

Keywords: Cable car; Latin America; Natural experiment; Quality of life; Transportation.

Fig. 1

Map of the locations of intervention and control areas of the TrUST study in Bogotá, Colombia. The red-shaded area represents the influence area around the existing TransMiCable stations (Ciudad Bolívar Locality). The purple-shaded area corresponds to the control area around the projected stations of the new cable car system (San Cristóbal Locality). The map also shows the location of these two study areas within the city of Bogotá and the city's position within Colombia.

Fig. 2

Sampling of participants. The TrUST study, 2018–2020. We invited one adult (18 years or older) per household who had lived in the intervention or control area for at least 2 years and were not planning to move within the next 2 years to participate in the study.