Examining the relationship between car ownership, car use, and exercise: Role of the built environment

Abstract

Although owning a car allows people to access distant fitness centers and may promote exercise, car use may encourage sedentary behavior and reduce exercise. There is no empirical evidence on the relationship between car ownership, car use, and exercise, and whether improving the built environment is useful to encourage exercise by affecting car ownership and usage. Through a survey of 1049 respondents in Shanghai and subsequent path analysis, we investigate the relationship between the built environment around residences and workplaces, car ownership, car usage for work and non-work trips, and the duration of exercise weekly. While car ownership directly fosters exercise, it indirectly reduces exercise due to increased car usage for work and non-work trips, and the negative effects outweigh the positive. Moreover, the built environment around residences and workplaces affects exercise through car ownership and usage. People living in dense and downtown neighborhoods conduct more exercise because of the fewer likelihood of owning and/or using cars. More intersections and transit stops around residences and mixed land use around workplaces reduce exercise by increasing car ownership and/or car usage. We conclude that reducing car ownership and usage can promote exercise, and built environment interventions are effective in enhancing public health outcomes.