Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this study is to examine socio-demographic, geographic and physical activity correlates of walking and cycling for non-leisure purposes, i.e., to work, school, or errands, in Canada.
Methods
Cross-sectional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2003 (n = 127,610) were analyzed using logistic regression to identify factors associated with active transportation. The dependent variables were walking 6+ hours per week and any cycling per week. Independent variables were based on age; marital, education, working and immigrant status; income; geographic location; smoking; and other physical activity.
Results
Age and income were associated with both walking and cycling, as was geographic location and other physical activity. The results demonstrated that, while similar, walking and cycling are associated with different factors, and that socio-demographic, geographic and health behaviour variables must be taken into consideration when modelling these transportation modes.
Conclusions
Although walking and cycling are relatively easy means to incorporate physical activity in daily life, these results suggest that it is the young and the physically active who engage in them. This research points to a need to address barriers among those who could benefit the most from increased use of both modes of travel.
MeSH terms: Physical activity, urban renewal, transportation
Résumé
Objectif
Cette étude menée au Canada porte sur les facteurs sociodémographiques, géographiques et d’activité physique associés à la marche et à l’usage de la bicyclette autrement que pour les loisirs (p. ex. pour se rendre au travail ou à l’école ou pour faire ses courses).
Méthode
Nous avons analysé par régression logistique des données transversales tirées de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes de 2003 (n=127 610) afin de cerner les facteurs associés au transport actif. Les variables dépendantes étaient le fait de marcher six heures et plus par semaine et l’usage de la bicyclette au moins une fois par semaine (durée non spécifiée). Les variables indépendantes étaient l’âge, l’état matrimonial, l’instruction, la situation professionnelle, le statut d’immigrant, le revenu, l’emplacement géographique, le tabagisme et les autres formes d’activité physique.
Résultats
L’âge et le revenu étaient associés à la marche et à la bicyclette, tout comme l’emplacement géographique et les autres formes d’activité physique. Les résultats obtenus, très semblables pour la marche et pour la bicyclette, montrent cependant que ces deux activités sont associées à des facteurs différents et qu’il faut tenir compte des variables sociodémographiques, géographiques et d’activité physique lorsqu’on élabore des modèles pour ces deux moyens de transport.
Conclusion
La marche et la bicyclette sont deux moyens relativement faciles d’intégrer l’activité physique au quotidien, mais les résultats obtenus donnent à penser que ce sont surtout les jeunes et les personnes actives qui les pratiquent. Il faudrait étudier les obstacles qui empêchent les personnes qui en profiteraient le plus d’utiliser davantage ces deux moyens de transport.
References
- 1.European Commission. Cycling: The way ahead for towns and cities. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities; 2000. pp. 27–31. [Google Scholar]
- 2.Pucher J, Komanoff C, Schimek P. Bicycling renaissance in North America? Recent trends and alternative policies to promote bicycling. Transportation Research Part A. 1999;33:625–54. [Google Scholar]
- 3.Pucher J, Renne JL. Socioeconomics of urban travel: Evidence from the 2001 NHTS. Transportation Q. 2003;57(3):49–77. [Google Scholar]
- 4.Berrigan D, Troiano R, McNeel T, DiSogrq C, Ballard-Barbash R. Active transportation increases adherence to activity recommendations. Am J Prev Med. 2006;31(3):210–16. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2006.04.007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Carlsson-Kanyama A, Lindén A, Thelander A. Gender difference in environmental impacts from patterns of transportation–A case study from sweden. Soc Natural Resources. 1999;12:355–69. doi: 10.1080/089419299279641. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- 6.Craig CL, Brownson RC, Cragg SE, Dunn AL. Exploring the effect of the environment on physical activity: A study examining walking to work. Am J Prev Med. 2002;23(2S):36–43. doi: 10.1016/S0749-3797(02)00472-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 7.Frank LD, Andresen MA, Schmid TL. Obesity relationships with community design, physical activity, and time spent in cars. Am J Prev Med. 2004;27(2):87–96. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2004.04.011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 8.Canadian Population Health Initiative. Improving the Health of Canadians: Promoting Healthy Weights. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Institute for Health Information; 2006. [Google Scholar]
- 9.Pucher J, Buehler R. Why Canadians cycle more than Americans: A comparative analysis of bicycling trends and policies. Transport Policy. 2006;13:265–79. doi: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2005.11.001. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- 10.Andersen LB, Schnohr P, Schroll M, Hein HO. All-cause mortality associated with physical activity during leisure time, work, sports, and cycling to work. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:1621–28. doi: 10.1001/archinte.160.11.1621. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 11.Morris JN, Clayton DG, Everitt MG, Semmence AM, Burgess EH. Exercise in leisure time: Coronary attack and death rates. Br Heart J. 1990;63:325–34. doi: 10.1136/hrt.63.6.325. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 12.Stead D. Relationships between land use, socio-economic factors, and travel patterns in Britain. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design. 2001;28:499–528. doi: 10.1068/b2677. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- 13.Canadian Community Health Survey [2000–01], Statistics Canada: Cycle 1.1 (Share File).
- 14.SPSS for Windows, Rel. 12.0.0. Chicago: SPSS Inc; 2003. [Google Scholar]
- 15.Aronson S. The sociology of the bicycle. Social Forces. 1952;30(3):305–12. doi: 10.2307/2571596. [DOI] [Google Scholar]
- 16.Pucher J, Dikstra L. Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health: Lessons from the Netherlands and Germany. Am J Public Health. 2003;93(9):1509–16. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.93.9.1509. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 17.Go For Green, Environics. 1998 . National Survey on Active Transportation: Summary Report. Ottawa, ON: Go For Green; 1998. [Google Scholar]