Active Travel Research Articles

Quantifying active travel among people with disabilities in the US

BackgroundPeople with disabilities have higher rates of physical inactivity than people without. Active travel (e.g., walking/wheeling to nearby destinations or transit) is a recommended approach to increasing total physical activity (PA) but limited research has examined active travel among people with disabilities. ObjectiveTo describe active travel among a nationally representative sample of people with disabilities, analyze variation between sub-groups, and examine factors associated with active travel. MethodsUsing the 2017 National Household Travel Survey, our cross-sectional analysis summarized counts and duration of walking/wheeling trips for people with four different types of disabilities. We examined which factors were associated with doing any active travel and the duration of active travel, using zero inflated negative binomial regression models. ResultsOur analysis identified that 14.55% of people with disabilities took a mean of 2.56 (95%CI = 2.42–2.69) walking/wheeling trips per day. Compared to non-active travelers, a higher proportion of active travelers were low-income, lived alone, had no-vehicle, and were Black or Hispanic. For active travelers, daily walking minutes, on average, were 46.41 (95%CI = 40.25–52.57) among people who used ambulatory devices, 41.55 (95%CI = 24.61–58.49) among people who were blind/low-vision, 39.93 (95%CI = 35.41–44.45) among people who used no device, and 29.58 (95%CI = 23.53–35.64) among people who used chair devices. Our analysis identified individual, household, and community factors associated with the likelihood and duration of walking/wheeling for travel and variation across disability types. ConclusionsUnderstanding the multiple identities of active travelers with disabilities can inform walking/wheeling intervention strategies. Infrastructure improvements that support less reliance on automobiles could increase active travel among people with disabilities.

Exploring young people’s views of their local area related to the 20-minute neighbourhood policy: a national cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT This study aimed to examine how young people subjectively perceive their local neighbourhoods and compare these perceptions with objective data regarding access to amenities aligned with features of the 20-minute neighbourhood (20MN) policy. Objective data (n:287 aged 12-18 years) were gathered through an online adaptation of the Place Standard Tool for Young People in Scotland. Subjective data concerning access to ten amenities in line with the 20MN concept, along with crime statistics, area-level deprivation and urbanicity were spatially linked. The association between perceptions of localities and factors such as gender, as well as both subjective and objective neighbourhood assessments were examined. Young people were most satisfied with nature and active travel in their local area. Conversely, their satisfaction was lowest for active travel to school. Rural young people were more dissatisfied with their localities. Agreement was observed between satisfaction with their 20 neighbourhoods and objective data indicating the presence of frequent public transportation, recreational spaces, and access to services. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of amenities in healthy urban planning, showing a positive impact on young people’s perceptions. Additionally, we uncover a connection between crime perceptions and area-level crime variables, potentially influencing health outcomes.

Does Travel Spread Infection?—Effects of Social Stirring Simulated on SEIRS Circuit Grid

Previous models of the spread of viral infection could not explain the potential risk of non-infectious travelers and exceptional events, such as the reduction in infected cases with an increase in travelers. In this study, we provide an explanation for improving the model by considering two factors. First, we consider the travel of susceptible (S), exposed (E), and recovered (R) individuals who may become infected and infect others in the destination region in the near future, as well as infectious (I). Second, people living in a region and those moving from other regions are treated as separate but interacting groups to consider the potential influence of movement before infection. We show the results of the simulation of infection spread in a country where individuals travel across regions and the government chooses regions to vaccinate with priority. As a result, vaccinating people in regions with larger populations better suppresses the spread of infection, which turns out to be a part of a general law that the same quantity of vaccines can work efficiently by maximizing the conditional entropy Hc of the distribution of vaccines to regions. This strategy outperformed vaccination in regions with a larger effective regeneration number. These results, understandable through the new concept of social stirring, correspond to the fact that travel activities across regional borders may even suppress the spread of vaccination if processed at a sufficiently high pace. This effect can be further reinforced if vaccines are equally distributed to local regions.

Do men and women differ in time-use? Analysing the complexity of activity patterns in Germany

Individuals’ participation in daily routine activities varies according to the situations they live in. Gender roles and marital status drive them to take part in various economic, leisure and travel activities. Married (or cohabiting) individuals, in comparison to singles, juggle activities interdependently with their partners' resources and work allocation, resulting in potentially complex intersecting schedules. The primary aim of this research is to explore the complexity (measured using Shannon’s entropy) of individuals’ activity patterns by considering diverse factors such as demographics, job/education, residential location, travel behaviour, gendered multitasking behaviour, time use preferences and partner interactions. To examine variations in complexity, we developed three separate models for single and partnered respondents, and all respondents, respectively. We used German Time Use Survey 2012/13 data and employed multilevel linear regression models. Gender interaction variables were additionally included in the analysis to examine the gender differences in coefficients. In general, our results suggest that activity pattern complexity is positively associated with demographics (being women, having young children), job/education (high levels of education, working in non-market sector), travel behaviour (number of trips, car, public transport and cycling), time spent on unpaid multitasking, preference for time use (leisure and unpaid work) and additional work hour preferences, whereas full-time/overtime working, paid multitasking negatively affects the complexity. For partnered respondents, factors such as increase in age, increase in income, working in shifts and time spent on paid multitasking have significant negative effects on the complexity of activity patterns, while partners’ time spent on unpaid work and leisure activities positively affects respondents’ complexity. The gender interaction with multitasking behaviour reveals that men’s activity patterns are increasingly complex with more time spent on unpaid multitasking, while for women, the complexity of activity patterns is positively associated with more time spent on paid multitasking.

Spatiotemporal Operational Emissions Associated With Light-, Medium-, and Heavy-Duty Transportation Electrification

The spatiotemporal distribution of pollutants plays a significant role on their impact on ecosystems and human health. This paper presents a strategy for calculating spatiotemporal operational emissions of road transportation and the electric grid to quantify the impact of transportation electrification. Emissions from internal combustion engine vehicles and offset emissions from electric vehicles (EVs) are considered using actual transportation networks and travel data. The spatiotemporal charging demand for light-duty and medium- and heavy-duty EVs are estimated in a behaviorally-informed way and mapped to electrical buses within the power grid and an ac optimal power flow with unit commitment is solved. The methodology is demonstrated with ten scenarios simulated on a grid with 7000 electrical buses geographically sited in Texas, created with actual generator data for the 2020 grid, and a future case including anticipated generator updates by 2030. Results show overall transportation emissions reductions in daily operational emissions of up to 20–30% for all pollutants studied, outweighing the increase in emissions from the electric grid. Considering emissions on an hourly basis, up to approximately 1000% reduction in CO emissions is observed.

Blockchain of things (BoT) innovation for smart tourism

AbstractThis study aims to (a) develop the innovation of BoT prototype; and (b) provide an effective platform to recommend tourists activity, implement and trials blockchain prototype for booking travel activities, whether booking travel programs, air ticket booking hotel stay visits to attractions and payment of goods and services, and evaluate tourist intention to use BoT. The developed architecture enables the integration of blockchain technology capabilities into IoT technology based on high performance of usability, stability, accuracy, and completeness. The BoT prototype is evaluated by 428 users to support smart tourism. This support is significant and the level includes the BoT functional benefit (security, process, and availability) that is positively related to the intention to adopt BoT, and user benefit (trust, usability) is also positive related with intention to adopt BoT. This study significantly contributes to revolutionizing the tourism industry by implementing BOT in smart tourism destinations to gain competitive advantage.

Introduction to Everyday Internationalism: Socialist–South Connections and Mass Culture during the Cold War

AbstractThis Special Issue brings together scholars working in a variety of contexts to explore the concepts of solidarity and socialist internationalism as a mass phenomenon. While recent scholarship has begun to document linkages between the socialist and (post)colonial world during the Cold War, most of this work has eschewed a focus on the mass, social experience of internationalism, instead emphasizing the transformative role played by small groups of mobile elites. But if the direct experience of socialist internationalism was limited to a privileged few, how then was it experienced by the majority, for whom actual travel outside of their state was a distant possibility? This issue explores how socialist internationalism and its attendant practices of solidarity functioned within and between socialist societies. Where it does take border-transcending groups as its subject, it explores the socio-historical, everyday implications of this transnational story. For much of the Cold War, state and party-led practices of internationalism were a central component of everyday life, but little is known about these practices as they manifested on the ground. To shed light on this, this Special Issue explores how depictions of solidarity manifested in mass culture; how everyday practices emerged out of socialist internationalism and anti-imperialism; and how institutions that sought to bridge gaps between societies through solidarity emerged and then transformed or disappeared after 1989.

From tourism in the Darkverse to tourism with digital detox: designing responsible Metaverse tourism experiences

ABSTRACT The rapid adoption of immersive technologies such as the Metaverse promises to transform the tourism industry. However, some Metaverse tourism experiences fail to elicit positive feelings about corresponding authentic destinations or motivate in-person visitation. Unless redesigned, Metaverse tourism risks becoming a ‘Darkverse’ that displaces – rather than complements – actual travel. This study provides a human-centered approach by applying the technology acceptance model through mixed methods, including content analysis and scenario-based experiments. Strategies such as limiting duration to mitigate cybersickness, providing exit controls, and carefully crafting experiences prove critical to harnessing Metaverse technology sustainably. By optimising Metaverse technologies to complement – not replace – wellbeing-focused actual travel, this novel approach presents new opportunities for the tourism industry to responsibly leverage immersive technologies. The proposed design principles guide innovators and policymakers seeking to maximise the benefits of Metaverse tourism while avoiding the risks of a ‘Darkverse’ virtual tourism dystopia.

Measuring the Effect of Built Environment on Students’ School Trip Method Using Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale

School trips affect different aspects, such as air pollution and urban traffic, and of personal wellbeing, such as students’ physical and mental health. The increasing concern about environmental sustainability has prompted a reevaluation of daily activities, including school transportation. While different factors that affect students’ school trips have been investigated in the literature, the effect of the built environment has been evaluated only sporadically in previous studies. To fulfil this knowledge gap, this study aims to investigate the effect of the built environment on students’ school trips by adapting and extending the well-known Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) questionnaire. The questionnaire survey was conducted with parents from 36 schools in Yazd, Iran, providing a sample of 1688 students aged 7–18 years. The items from the NEWS questionnaire were placed in nine factors by performing factor analysis. The Multinomial Logit Regression model was applied to check the predictive power of these nine factors. It was found that the variables of land use mix-diversity, land use mix-access, crime, age, gender, household income and car ownership had a significant effect on students’ school trips. The more easily students have access to different places, the less they use public services and cars compared with the active travel mode. The use of public services and cars increases with the increase in crime rate along the route to school. The findings indicate that built environment features may impact students’ shift from traditional transportation modes to active alternatives, such as walking and cycling, contributing to the attainment of broader sustainability objectives.

Spatial accessibility and travel to pharmacy by type in the Detroit region

BackgroundCommunity pharmacies are a critical part of the health care provision system. Yet less is understood about the spatial accessibility to pharmacies and how people travel to reach these services. ObjectivesThis study compared spatial accessibility and actual travel to different types of pharmacies among selected neighborhoods in the Detroit region. MethodsThree types of neighborhoods were selected and compared, including two lower income Black urban neighborhoods of high-density and four upper income White suburbs (two of low density and two of high density). Spatial accessibility was computed by pharmacy type and compared among neighborhoods using ANOVA. Pharmacy trips reported in a travel survey were geocoded and linked with community pharmacies in a list generated from ReferenceUSA business data. Destination choices were mapped and the relationship between spatial accessibility and actual distance traveled was examined using ordinary least squares regressions. ResultsOn average, urban residents in Detroit had higher access to local independent pharmacies (0.74 miles to the nearest one) but relatively lower access to national chains (1.35 miles to the nearest one), which most residents relied on. Urban residents also tended to shop around more for services even among national chains. In fact, they bypassed nearby local independent pharmacies and traveled long distances to use farther pharmacies, primarily national chains. The average trip distance to pharmacy was 2.1 miles for urban residents, but only 1.1 miles and 1.5 miles for residents in high-density suburbs and low-density suburbs, respectively. ConclusionSupposedly good spatial access considering all pharmacies together may mask excessive burden in reaching the pharmacy services needed in low-income minority urban communities, as shown in the case of Detroit. Thus, when mapping pharmacy deserts, it is important to distinguish spatial accessibility among different pharmacy types.

Navigating active Transit: How built environments shape commuting and leisure journeys

This study offers a nuanced investigation into the complexities of active travel behavior in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), with a specific focus on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) in India. Utilizing a dual-method approach, the research employs Poisson regression models to analyze the frequency of active commuting and Cox proportional hazards models to explore the duration of such travel. The study reveals that urban design elements, socio-economic factors, and individual demographics collectively shape travel behavior, often in unexpected ways. Contrary to prevailing assumptions, walkable neighborhoods and enhanced public transit accessibility do not universally encourage active commuting. For example, while increased bus stop availability boosts the frequency of work-related active trips, its impact on leisure travel is minimal. Similarly, higher intersection density, generally associated with greater walkability, unexpectedly leads to longer travel durations. The study also finds that proximity to urban centers like the Central Business District exhibits a dual influence—promoting active commuting for work but slightly reducing it for leisure activities. These multifaceted findings underscore the need for more context-specific, multidimensional approaches in urban planning and policy formulation. Future research aims to expand upon these insights through quasi-experimental methods to better understand the socio-cultural, economic, and environmental intricacies influencing travel behavior in LMICs.

A systematic evaluation of physical activity and diet policies in Scotland: results from the 2021 Active Healthy Kids Report Card.

Policymaking regarding physical activity (PA) and diet plays an important role in childhood health promotion. This study provides a detailed examination of Scottish government and policy for child and adolescent PA and diet and discusses strengths and areas for improvement. Scottish policy documents (n=18 [PA]; n=10 [diet])-published in 2011-20-were reviewed for grading using an adapted version of the Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Policy Audit Tool Version 2. There is clear evidence of leadership and commitment to improving PA and diet and tackling obesity in children and adolescents. The allocation of funds and resources for policy implementation has increased substantially over the past decade. Progress through early key stages of public policymaking-policy agenda and formation-has improved. However, there is limited information on later key stages, including policy monitoring and evaluation. Childhood PA and diet are a clear priority in Scotland, and PA and diet policies clearly support the desire to achieve other goals, including reducing inequalities and increasing active travel in Scotland. Nonetheless, future policies should be further strengthened through clear(er) plans of implementation, and monitoring and evaluation to support their societal impact.

Triggers for feelings of insecurity and perceptions of safety in relation to public transport; the experiences of young and active travellers

ABSTRACT A key aspect of an attractive and accessible public transport system is that passengers feel safe and secure, not least from a travel chain perspective. The aim of this paper is to provide an increased understanding of triggers for feelings of insecurity and perceptions of safety in relation to public transport, with a special focus on larger public transport nodes in the city of Malmö, Sweden. The study draws on a map-based online survey (public participatory GIS) which was designed to allow people to contribute their experiences and reflections. An online survey was distributed through social media, and the collected data is of both a quantitative and a qualitative nature. The sample consists of 290 students and workers between the ages of 21–35 who frequently use public transport. The findings show that one in ten respondents have often to very often avoided public transport because of feelings of insecurity. Thematic analysis revealed a variety of triggers, covering aspects from the physical dimension to the social dimension. Some examples include the design of bus stops, the surrounding traffic environment, and other people. The presence of guards and the police force seems to increase the feelings of insecurity for some, while the opposite was true for other respondents. The findings emphasize the importance of further research to illuminate different parts of a journey at a micro level, i.e. from the person-environment relationship, as well as to further highlight the issue of who transit environments are planned and designed for.

Fungsi Komunikasi Edukasi Manajemen Pariwisata Regional-Internasional Dengan Learning by Doing bagi Anggota Bhakti Wanita Ikopin (BWI)

Fungsi Komunikasi Edukasi Manajemen Pariwisata Regional-Internasional Dengan Learning by Doing bagi Anggota Bhakti Wanita Ikopin (BWI) One of the instrumental communication functions is to educate. It means that the messages as well as the method conveyed are to make the receivers - the members of Bhakti Wanita Ikopin (BWI) - understand and practise them at once. For this activity, Communication of Regional – International Tourism Management becomes the main message. Because the purposes of the activity were to broaden knowledges and to enrich experiences of tourist destinations, accommodation, transportation system, communication system, culinary, and cultures, etc; they chose Singapore and Malaysia as their tourist destinations. In this case the writer determined to encourage the participants to have willing in managing the travelling activities independently without travel agent service. Using learning by doing or experiential learning method, the activity was initiated in two weeks by planning all elements, then conducting the travelling for a week, and last but not least evaluating the travelling program. During the whole activities, the participants were able to plan, and to implement all plannings pretty well not to mention having fun in every destination.

Adolescent Perspectives on the Impact of Peers and Social Media on Active Travel and Physical Activity: A Mixed Methods Study

Physical activity (PA), including active travel (AT), is related to healthy adolescent development and wellbeing, however, behavior rates are low. Simultaneously, adolescent screen use, and engagement in social media platforms (SMP) is very high. The aim of this mixed methods study was to explore the relationship between peer engagement and SMP and adolescent AT and PA. We employed an exploratory sequential design that included integration of results of qualitative interviews with 25 adolescent-parent dyads and quantitative data from a cross-sectional survey in a representative sample of Hebrew-speaking adolescents in secondary schools across Israel ( n = 2,911). Reflexive thematic analysis was employed for the qualitative study; constructs identified served as the basis for development of a quantitative data collection instrument. Correlation and linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate associations between key quantitative analysis variables. The integrated analysis primarily identified convergence between datasets expressed in narrative weaving and joint displays. We found that AT with peers is a social activity; AT and PA are an opportunity for peer-to-peer communication without screens; and SMP are utilized to promote AT and PA. Interventions that emphasize these key constructs as well as use of SMP may increase adolescent AT and PA behaviors.

Analysis of Factors Influencing the Decision to Visit Nusantara Youth Travel to Bali

Nusantara tourists constitute a pivotal aspect of Bali's tourism. The undeniable impact of the widespread COVID-19 cases has rendered Bali's tourism nearly lifeless. However, the resilient travel activities of Nusantara tourists, albeit in modest numbers, offer a glimmer of hope for Bali. The potential of Nusantara tourists, particularly among the younger generation, commonly referred to as youth travellers in tourism terminology, is substantial. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), youth travel involves individuals aged 16-29 engaging in tourism. Statistics reveal that the youth travel demographic commands 23% of global tourism. Based on the 2020 census by the Central Statistics Agency, the combined population of Generation X (millennials) and Generation Z (zillennials) holds the highest share in Indonesia. Hence, the potential of Nusantara youth travel for Bali is promising. Consequently, there is a need for research on the characteristics, movement distribution, and factors influencing the decisions of Nusantara youth travellers to tour Bali. This study will employ a mixed-methods approach, utilizing Likert scale analysis and factor analysis tools. The anticipated findings aim to contribute valuable information on youth travel to the Bali regional government, particularly the Tourism Agency, and other tourism stakeholders. This information can serve as the foundation for devising marketing strategies to enhance the influx of Nusantara youth travellers to Bali.

Floating Market History, Status, and Changes: Insights from Vietnam

Floating markets are a unique form of traditional commercial business, playing an important role in waterway trade and featuring distinctively attractive local cultural values. Studies of floating markets not only provide insights into cultural heritage but also foster better conservation and effective destination marketing and promotion. Research data were collected from structured interviews with 80 merchants and 8 representatives of state management agencies responsible for culture and tourism. Moreover, unstructured interviews with 34 merchants were undertaken. Field observations and literature review also provided relevant sources of information to frame our research. The findings in this study indicate that floating markets in Vietnam have distinctive features that have been historically long formed as a consequence of both natural and socioeconomic factors. Floating markets are found to play a focal role in the socioeconomic and cultural development of the country. There are also some critical changes made to conventional spaces, trading boat quantity, travel and trading activities, community relations, and impacts in the floating markets.

Impacts of active travel interventions on travel behaviour and health: Results from a five-year longitudinal travel survey in Outer London

IntroductionThis paper analyses six years' data from the People and Places longitudinal study. The study examines travel behaviour impacts of major investments in active travel infrastructure in three Outer London boroughs (the ‘mini-Hollands programme’). MethodsA controlled longitudinal analysis was used to compare changes in active travel in intervention and control groups, with three levels of intervention group (mini-Holland borough but no local intervention; active travel infrastructure but no low traffic neighbourhood; low traffic neighbourhood, usually also with proximity to active travel infrastructure). Finally, the article estimates the 20-year health economic benefit from uptake of active travel, using the average point estimates across all waves for both the mini-Holland programme as a whole and in the most intensively treated areas. ResultsAt all waves, living in an area with mini-Holland interventions was consistently associated with increased duration of past-week active travel, compared with the control group. Changes in active travel behaviour were largest and had the strongest evidence for those living in low traffic neighbourhoods. Most of the increase was in time spent walking, although the strongest evidence of increased participation was for cycling. There was also evidence of decline in car ownership and/or use, although this was weaker and seen convincingly only in the low traffic neighbourhood areas. The 20-year health economic benefit from the mini-Holland areas was calculated at £1,056 m, from a programme cost of around £100 m. The most effective interventions (low traffic neighbourhoods) provide a twenty-year per-person physical-activity related benefit of £4800 compared to a per-person cost of £28–35 (LTNs implemented during 2020 as Covid-19 emergency interventions) or £112 (higher-cost LTNs with more features like greening and crossing improvements). ConclusionsActive travel interventions provided high value for money when comparing health economic benefits from physical activity to costs of scheme implementation, particularly low traffic neighbourhoods.

Evaluating the Intellectual Capital of Intensively Tourism-Dependent Countries Between, Prior, and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The tourism industry has grappled with the challenges posed by the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since the start of 2020, experiencing a complete lockdown that profoundly affected travel activities. This viral outbreak had a critical impact on both the financial and non-financial aspects of life, including the intellectual capital (IC) of the tourism and hospitality sectors. However, there is a scarcity of studies addressing this issue within the context of tourism-related businesses. Thus, this paper aims to investigate the changes in the overall IC and its components before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on understanding the transformation of IC in the tourism industry of Thailand, a country that is highly dependent on tourism. The study involved 37 tourism-related companies listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). Organizational data from financial and annual reports published between 2019 and 2020 were collected for analysis. The assessment of value added intellectual capital (VAICTM) was employed to evaluate the performance of the overall IC and its components during the pandemic. The results, based on the testing of four hypotheses, indicated that most hypotheses were accepted, signifying a substantial transformation in the overall IC performance of tourism-related companies during the pandemic crisis. This transformation was observed in the IC components of physical and human capitals. However, the structural capital was the only IC component that did not experience a significant impact from COVID-19. To comprehend the reasons and effects of the IC transformations during the pandemic, this study delved into the relevant literature. Additionally, the paper includes implications to support firms in preparing for future challenges.

Towards a Sustainable Transport System: Exploring Capacity Building for Active Travel in Africa

The promotion of active travel is deemed a crucial component of the transition to sustainable urban mobility. Several barriers hinder its policy implementation and uptake. Some evidence suggests that capacity building could be a useful tool for deepening sustainability efforts. This concept involves the development and deployment of skills and resources. However, a clear framework for understanding the dimensions of capacity building for active travel is lacking. Furthermore, most research and findings use cases within a Global North context, constricting implications and transferability to the Global South, especially to African cities. This study responds to the dearth of scholarly work exploring Global South cases and fills a knowledge gap regarding capacity building in the case of active travel. Through a literature review, we examined the dimensions of capacity building that are necessary to improve active travel in selected African countries. We focus on multilevel transportation governance with highlights from five African cities. Our findings suggest that the literature and policies on transport in Africa have key dimensions for capacity building for active travel but lack the introduction of key instruments and strategic pathways to meet these requirements for improved sustainable mobility. We propose a thematic guiding framework that delineates the strategic application of capacity building at three levels of governance. This framework helps integrate capacity building for active travel policies and implementation at the institutional, individual, and environmental levels.