BACKGROUND: Most public transit users walk to and from transit. We analyzed the relationship between transit commuting and objectively measured physical activity. METHODS: Adults aged 20 to 65 working outside the home (n = 1237) were randomly selected from neighborhoods in Seattle and Baltimore regions. Neighborhoods had high or low median income and high or low mean walkability. Mean daily minutes of accelerometer-measured moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) were regressed on frequency of commuting by transit and neighborhood walkability, adjusting for demographic factors and enjoyment of physical activity. Interaction terms and stratification were used to assess moderating effect of walkability on the relation between transit commuting and MPA. Associations between transit commuting and self-reported days walked to destinations near home and work were assessed using Chi Square tests. RESULTS: Regardless of neighborhood walkability, those commuting by transit accumulated more MPA (approximately 5 to 10 minutes) and walked more to services and destinations near home and near the workplace than transit nonusers. Enjoyment of physical activity was not associated with more transit commute, nor did it confound the relationships between MPA and commuting. CONCLUSION: Investments in infrastructure and service to promote commuting by transit could contribute to increased physical activity and improved health.
BACKGROUND: Most public transit users walk to and from transit. We analyzed the relationship between transit commuting and objectively measured physical activity. METHODS: Adults aged 20 to 65 working outside the home (n = 1237) were randomly selected from neighborhoods in Seattle and Baltimore regions. Neighborhoods had high or low median income and high or low mean walkability. Mean daily minutes of accelerometer-measured moderate-intensity physical activity (MPA) were regressed on frequency of commuting by transit and neighborhood walkability, adjusting for demographic factors and enjoyment of physical activity. Interaction terms and stratification were used to assess moderating effect of walkability on the relation between transit commuting and MPA. Associations between transit commuting and self-reported days walked to destinations near home and work were assessed using Chi Square tests. RESULTS: Regardless of neighborhood walkability, those commuting by transit accumulated more MPA (approximately 5 to 10 minutes) and walked more to services and destinations near home and near the workplace than transit nonusers. Enjoyment of physical activity was not associated with more transit commute, nor did it confound the relationships between MPA and commuting. CONCLUSION: Investments in infrastructure and service to promote commuting by transit could contribute to increased physical activity and improved health.
Authors: Barbara B Brown; Carol M Werner; Calvin P Tribby; Harvey J Miller; Ken R Smith Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2015-05-14 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Lance Freeman; Kathryn Neckerman; Ofira Schwartz-Soicher; James Quinn; Catherine Richards; Michael D M Bader; Gina Lovasi; Darby Jack; Christopher Weiss; Kevin Konty; Peter Arno; Deborah Viola; Bonnie Kerker; Andrew G Rundle Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2013-08 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Brian E Saelens; Anne Vernez Moudon; Bumjoon Kang; Philip M Hurvitz; Chuan Zhou Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2014-03-13 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Jordan A Carlson; Brian E Saelens; Jacqueline Kerr; Jasper Schipperijn; Terry L Conway; Lawrence D Frank; Jim E Chapman; Karen Glanz; Kelli L Cain; James F Sallis Journal: Health Place Date: 2015-01-09 Impact factor: 4.078
Authors: Jerzy Eisenberg-Guyot; Anne V Moudon; Philip M Hurvitz; Stephen J Mooney; Kathryn B Whitlock; Brian E Saelens Journal: J Transp Health Date: 2019-08-03
Authors: Harvey J Miller; Calvin P Tribby; Barbara B Brown; Ken R Smith; Carol M Werner; Jean Wolf; Laura Wilson; Marcelo G Simas Oliveira Journal: Health Place Date: 2015-09-01 Impact factor: 4.078