Active travel as stable source of physical activity for one third of German adults: Evidence from longitudinal data. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Buehler, Ralph; Kuhnimhof, Tobias; Bauman, Adrian; Eisenmann, Christine
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 123(2019)
• Page Start: 105
• Page End: 118
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: German mobility panel -- Active travel -- Physical activity -- Maintenance -- Stability; Transportation -- Research -- Periodicals; 388.011
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2018.09.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-8564

Abstract

Highlights: Assesses weekly minutes of active travel based on a panel study over two consecutive years. 48% achieve 150+ min of active travel per week in year 1 of panel participation. 35% achieve 150+ min of active travel in two consecutive years. Active travel can be a stable contributor to meeting health-enhancing recommended levels of physical activity. Abstract: Walking and cycling—active travel—can help adults achieve the World Health Organization's recommended 150+ min of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week. Based on a nationally representative panel-survey of daily travel in Germany, this study assesses weekly minutes of active travel by adult respondents participating in a weeklong survey in two consecutive years. The paper first identifies person-level covariates for achieving 150+ min of active travel during a week in year 1 of panel participation. The analysis then compares the patterns of individuals falling into four groups of active travel over the two survey years: 'high maintainers' who achieved 150+ min in both year 1 and year 2; 'low maintainers' who did not achieve 150+ min in neither year 1 nor year 2; 'adopters' who did not achieve 150+ min in year 1, but did so in year 2; and 'relapsers' who achieved 150+ min in year 1, but not in year 2. About half (48%) of respondents achieved 150+ min of active travel per week in their first year of panel participation. Of those, about three-quarters were 'high maintainers' with 150+ min of active travel in both years. Logistic regressions showed that 'high maintainers' were more likely to be 30 years or older, not employed, have a monthly public transport pass, live within 2 km of a shopping destination, and less likely to own cars. Transport and land-use policies can help influence several of these factors. Compared to 'low maintainers, ' policy interventions to increase population shares achieving health-enhancing levels of physical activity from active travel may be most promising when targeting 'adopters' and 'relapsers.' These groups are more similar to the 'high maintainers, ' with at least one year reporting of health-enhancing physical activity from active travel—compared to the 'low maintainers.'