Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the comprehensibility of intensity cues that are used most frequently in physical activity recommendations. Methods: Forty-seven healthy adults (23 females; age = 24 ± 4.4 yrs; BMI = 25.7 ± 4.2 kg/m2) consented to participate in this study. All participants were high school graduates with at least some college education. Participants were instructed to complete several 100-m walking trials at three frequently-referenced intensities of activity, including “slow”, “moderate”, and “very brisk”. Intensity cues were derived from the Compendium of Physical Activities (Ainsworth et al., 2000) to reflect walking speeds at 2.0 mph, 3.0 mph, and 4.0 mph; no further instruction was given in regard to walking speed. In total, six 100-m walking trials were completed in random order (two trials per intensity). Actual walking speed was recorded using the SpeedtrapII timing system (Brower Timing Systems, Draper UT), and was measured as the average of the two trials at each of the intensity cues. Analysis/Results: One sample t-test was used to determine the degree with which the participants' chosen walking speeds corresponded to the speeds outlined in the Compendium of Physical Activities. Additionally, intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated to determine walking speed reliability pertaining to each intensity cue. The results illustrated considerable variation in the participants' perceptions of intensity associated with each pace cue (slow = 1.45 – 3.31 mph; moderate = 2.26 – 4.41 mph; very brisk = 3.14 – 5.88 mph); where average walking speeds corresponding to “slow”, “moderate”, and “very brisk” intensity cues equated to 2.73 mph, 3.29 mph, and 4.13 mph, respectively. The actual walking speeds in response to the “slow”, “moderate”, and “very brisk intensity cues were significantly faster than the intended intensities outlined in the Compendium of Physical Activities, t(65) = 12.5, p < .001; t(65) = 5.76, p < .001; t(66) = 2.08, p = .042, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients were acceptable (> .80) across intensities (.82, .81, and .88 for speeds corresponding to 2.0 mph, 3.0 mph, and 4.0 mph, respectively), illustrating reliability evidence of walking speed at each of the chosen pace cues. Conclusions: To conclude, large variations in walking speed may have significant implications on the physical activity recommendations currently in place. The finding that individuals perceive these recommended intensities to be significantly higher than intended may influence the degree to which individuals adhere to existing physical activity recommendations. Keyword(s): adult physical activity/fitness, health promotion, measurement/evaluation