Does active transport create a win-win situation for environmental and human health: the moderating effect of leisure and tourism activity.

Abstract

The current environmental crisis is mostly due to global warming. Promoting walking and cycling requires both the availability of green public areas (such as parks, green paths, and greenways) and a mentality that values such active modes of transportation. Significant health advantages from increased physical activity (PA) are associated with transportation options like walking and cycling (sometimes known as "active transportation," AT): the health and environmental advantages of encouraging workers to use bicycles for transportation been widely acknowledged. The authors of this research set out to fill this information gap by investigating the theoretically theorized links between green public space awareness and attitudes toward active mobility, adapting to a changing environment, and improving one's mental and physical health, with leisure and tourist activities serving as a moderator. The data was collected quantitatively using purposive sampling and then analyzed using PLS-SEM. We surveyed Korean walkers (n = 282) and bikers (n = 315) online between May 25 and June 17, 2021, and used a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis to test our hypothesis. As stated in the findings, being conscious of green public space when using active transportation significantly affects how clean the air feels. Active transportation was shown to have a significant effect on health, and climate change mitigation efforts were found to have a significant effect on health. Those who used active transportation for tourism had a stronger connection between green public space awareness and air quality, in addition to environmental sustainability and ethical conduct mitigation, than those who used active transport for recreation. Therefore, the model may aid in locating transport and health scenarios that benefit both sectors.