Abstract
Active commuting provides routine-based regular physical activity which can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Using public transportation involves some walking or cycling to a transit stop, transfers and a walk to the end location and users of public transportation have been found to accumulate more moderate physical activity than non-users. Understanding how public transportation characteristics are associated with active transportation is thus important from a public health perspective. This study examines the associations between objective measures of access to public transportation and self-reported active commuting. Self-reported time spent either walking or cycling commuting each day and the distance to workplace were obtained for adults aged 16 to 65 in the Danish National Health Survey 2010 (n = 28,928). Access to public transportation measures were computed by combining GIS-based road network distances from home address to public transit stops an integrating their service level. Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine the association between access to public transportation measures and active commuting. Distance to bus stop, density of bus stops, and number of transport modes were all positively associated with being an active commuter and with meeting recommendations of physical activity. No significant association was found between bus services at the nearest stop and active commuting. The results highlight the importance of including detailed measurements of access to public transit in order to identify the characteristics that facilitate the use of public transportation and active commuting.
Highlights
There is convincing evidence that engaging in regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduces the risks of obesity [1,2], cardiovascular diseases [3], diabetes [4] and premature death [5].Active commuting is receiving increased attention in this context because its routine-based nature provides regular physical activity during the week
The findings of the present study suggest that being an active commuter is associated with proximity to public transportation, number of bus routes, bus service frequency and accessible transport modes within walking or cycling distance
The findings suggest that better access to public transportation through shorter distances between stops and higher diversity in bus routes and transport modes is associated with active commuting
Summary
There is convincing evidence that engaging in regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reduces the risks of obesity [1,2], cardiovascular diseases [3], diabetes [4] and premature death [5].Active commuting is receiving increased attention in this context because its routine-based nature provides regular physical activity during the week. Public transportation commuters have been found to accumulate significantly more MPA per day (5–10 min) [10] compared to non-public transportation users. Those who commute solely by active modes or active commuting in combination with public transportation or car have been found to be significantly more active than those who use motorized modes of transport [11]. In a public health perspective, active commuting by public transportation has been found to be associated with a significantly lower risk of being overweight [4] or obese (men only) [2] and active commuting has been found to have a protective effect on cardiovascular outcomes [3] and may have a positive effect on diabetes prevention [4,12,13]. Studying local public transit characteristics that facilitate the use of public transportation addresses key information needed to promote active transportation and resulting health benefits
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