Chance or Strategy? Assessing the Unanticipated Policy Window for Active Transportation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Physical activity (PA) policy is essential for promoting population-level PA by coordinating efforts across various sectors. Global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic can open policy windows, enabling rapid implementation of innovative policies. This study examined how policy windows shaped active transportation (AT) policies during the pandemic, resulting in infrastructural changes. Methods: A systematic review using PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest–Coronavirus Research Database, Web of Science, WHO COVID-19 Research Database, PsycInfo, and SPORTDiscus conducted to characterize AT policy during the pandemic (2020–2023). Descriptive analyses were conducted in Stata. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42025644930. Results: The search retrieved 3879 articles; 1162 were duplicates, leaving 2716 eligible. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 were selected for data extraction. Findings demonstrate the pandemic’s influence on AT policy implementation and its impact on the built environment, such as the creation of bicycle lanes and pedestrian-friendly spaces. While these policies indirectly impacted PA, many were transient and unintended. Regional disparities in case-study cities highlighted mobility alternatives to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Enablers and challenges for effective policy implementation were identified. Conclusion: The pandemic catalyzed global AT policies, demonstrating that urgency and political willpower can expedite policy enactment. Rapid urban infrastructure changes highlighted the potential for swift policy implementation during health emergencies, facilitating utilitarian PA. AT emerged as a practical solution, allowing essential movement. Addressing the immediate crisis proved more effective in implementing AT policies than prepandemic efforts focused on the physical inactivity’s health burden. Understanding local sustainability determinants can inform future urban planning for integrating AT initiatives sustainably.