Pedestrians choose healthy obstacles over boring pavements (cam.ac.uk)

IMHO, findings have no value until and unless they build real routes with 'healthy obstacles' and see if people actually use them over flat and 'boring' pavements. I am not optimistic.

When I'm walking home from work in December I can tell you that I will personally choose the easiest and fastest route... That may be different if I am on a sunny Sunday stroll.

The healthiest obstacles, IMHO, would be those that preclude the passage of bicycles, of any wheeled conveyances for that matter.