Melissa Bopp
melissaboppphd.bsky.social
Melissa Bopp
@melissaboppphd.bsky.social
Physical activity advocate, researcher and educator. Active traveler. Canadian expat.
It's time to move- s a long-term effort to make physical activity assessment, prescription, and referral a standard of health care delivery. Exercise is Medicine! Join the movement.

paamovewithus.org/its-time-to-...
It's Time to Move - Physical Activity Alliance
The science is clear: physical activity is necessary for a healthy life, contributing to both mental and physical health and […]
paamovewithus.org
October 14, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Our policy analysis showed that states with more support for Safe Routes to School had better child health outcomes. Transportation policy matters! journals.lww.com/jphmp/abstra...
journals.lww.com
September 24, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Rocking the new shirt in support of my friends and colleagues at the CDC. Learn about how budgets cuts will put public health in jeopardy www.cdcdataproject.org
June 19, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I was just starting to prep for my summer class on physical activity in diverse populations. I have used a CDC video series on health equity and the social determinants of health many times as a learning tool. Checked today and every. single. one. gone. Not a trace of them available.
May 30, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Cool new tech for biking safety: A small bicycle handlebar sensor can help map a region’s riskiest bike routes www.washington.edu/news/2025/05...
Video: A small bicycle handlebar sensor can help map a region’s riskiest bike routes
A UW-led team has developed a system, called ProxiCycle, that logs when a passing car comes too close to a cyclist (four feet or less). A small, inexpensive sensor plugs into bicycle handlebars and...
www.washington.edu
May 23, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Melissa Bopp
In Bloomberg CityLab, I explained why cities must build cycling *networks* – not just lanes.

It’s a lesson that many elected leaders have yet to learn (esp Ontario’s Doug Ford, who is taking a sledgehammer to Toronto's cycling network).

🧵
Why the Best Bike Lanes Always Get Blamed
A standoff over cycling infrastructure and traffic congestion in Toronto shows why building protected bike lanes on essential corridors draws controversy along with riders.
www.bloomberg.com
April 16, 2025 at 1:45 PM
To everyone who was so kind as to participate in our North American cargo bike survey - an early draft of our findings can be found on our lab's website. Thank you to everyone who participated! wp.me/P3MBF1-d0
Active Travel Research
Our lab is interested in learning about the things that influence how people travel The Physical Activity and Public Health lab has a focus on active travel (walking and biking). We take a m…
wp.me
April 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Melissa Bopp
Just what we need in the Netherlands. Introducing, this April 1, the self-driving bicycle.

Precies wat we in Nederland nodig hebben. Vanaf 1 april introduceren ze de zelfrijdende fiets.
Introducing the self-driving bicycle in the Netherlands
YouTube video by Google Nederland
www.youtube.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:23 PM
March 28, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Excited to present at the Active Living conference- hope to see you there.
March 3, 2025 at 3:31 PM
After 15 months of work, from many talented authors, I got to click submit today on the 2nd ed of Physical Activity in Diverse Populations. I'm so proud of the book that we compiled that showcases health disparities in many marginalized groups. The next generation of students needs to be educated.
February 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
My lab group is doing a research study on cargo bike users in North America. If you are a cargo bike user and have a minute to take the survey we'd love to hear from you. Or please feel free to share or repost for other cargo bike users. Many thanks! pennstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
pennstate.qualtrics.com
February 18, 2025 at 3:11 PM
When my students see cargo bikes on our study abroad trip in Copenhagen they always comment on how family life would be much improved in North America if we used these more. Clearly we need to take these legislators on a field trip.
spacing.ca/toronto/2025...
OP-ED: E-Cargo Bikes Aren't the Problem – SUVs Are - Spacing Toronto
Picture this: A parent pedals up to their child’s school on an e-cargo bike, their kid safely strapped in, chatting about their day. The pedal assist motor provides just enough boost to handle the wei...
spacing.ca
February 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Physical activity researchers- the CDC has pulled down the Community Guide from the Task Force for Community Preventive Services off their website. Does anyone have more recent version of the guide - the PA specific parts? All links are currently directed to the CDC stacks.
February 12, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The US has so much to learn from other countries in terms of creating opportunities for enjoyable exercise, providing affordable infrastructure and encouraging active travel.

Are Americans Doing Fitness Wrong? www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/w...
Are Americans Doing Fitness Wrong?
Four lessons about exercise from around the world.
www.nytimes.com
January 28, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Day 3:
Trump hits NIH with ‘devastating’ freezes on meetings, travel, communications, and hiring | Science | AAAS www.science.org/content/arti...
Trump hits NIH with ‘devastating’ freezes on meetings, travel, communications, and hiring
Researchers facing
www.science.org
January 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Melissa Bopp
Want more people to ride during the winter? Follow this lead, and give willing bike commuters free winter tires.
momentummag.com/winter-wheel...
Winter Cycling Programs Making a Difference: Three Canadian Cities Lead the Way
Thanks to community-driven initiatives cycling through the winter months is becoming an accessible and rewarding option for residents.
momentummag.com
January 22, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Delighted to be presenting at Penn State PRC's @prcpennstate.bsky.social seminar in February on our ongoing work examining college student health and physical activity. Hope you can join us. prevention.psu.edu/event/preven...
PRC Seminar: "The kids are alright...right?" An Examination of Physical and Mental Health Outcomes for College Students - Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center
This presentation will highlight some of the findings from long-standing studies in the department of Kinesiology examining the health of Penn State students. Summarizing more than a decade of researc...
prevention.psu.edu
January 20, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Just registered for the Active Enviro conference in Manhattan KS- who's with me???
January 17, 2025 at 7:06 PM
I always enjoy engaging undergraduate students in the research happening in my lab. This is a great story showcasing my former student's work on the influences on bicycling for women and non-binary college students @aaronwagner.bsky.social www.psu.edu/news/health-...
Alum’s undergraduate research drives passion for healthy transit | Penn State University
Women and gender non-binary students’ likeliness to walk or bike in campus settings was almost 30% lower than their male counterparts, despite the known benefits of bicycling. Emily Dzieniszewski, a 2...
www.psu.edu
January 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
A little light pre-semester reading and I came across this description of symposiums from ancient Greece. I feel like our modern conference symposium could be jazzed up a little with this practice. BRB... calling the organizing committee.
January 6, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Policy initiatives like incentivizing active commuting are an important part of a comprehensive strategy for communities to move the needle on these behaviors.
There’s a very credible fiscal policy case to be made for “paying” (which can happen through many kinds of mechanisms) people to bike to work. Investing in safe bike infrastructure and providing financial incentives to ride rather than drive saves and makes public money. HT @momentummag.bsky.social
Here is Why Governments Paying People to Bike to Work Makes Sense
All that is required to make a massive modal shift is safe cycling infrastructure and an incentive, why not paying people to bike to work?
momentummag.com
January 2, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Making New Years Resolutions related to exercise- think about being purposeful in WHERE you do your activity. Outdoor based PA is important for both mental and physical health benefits. Find what works for you! apnews.com/article/nove...
Meet the workout group that gets people exercising outdoors, even in the dead of winter
One part intense training and one part abject silliness, the November Project is a model for how to stay motivated to exercise outside throughout the winter.
apnews.com
January 2, 2025 at 4:41 PM