Variability and seasonality of active transportation in USA: evidence from the 2001 NHTS

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Active transportation including walking and bicycling is an important source of physical activity. Promoting active transportation is a challenge for the fields of public health and transportation. Descriptive data on the predictors...

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Main Authors: Bingham C Raymond, Diez Roux Ana V, Yang Yong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2011-09-01
Series:International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/8/1/96
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author Bingham C Raymond
Diez Roux Ana V
Yang Yong
author_facet Bingham C Raymond
Diez Roux Ana V
Yang Yong
author_sort Bingham C Raymond
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Active transportation including walking and bicycling is an important source of physical activity. Promoting active transportation is a challenge for the fields of public health and transportation. Descriptive data on the predictors of active transportation, including seasonal patterns in active transportation in the US as a whole, is needed to inform interventions and policies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study analyzed monthly variation in active transportation for the US using National Household Travel Survey 2001 data. For each age group of children, adolescents, adults and elderly, logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of the odds of active transportation including gender, race/ethnicity, household income level, geographical region, urbanization level, and month.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The probability of engaging in active transportation was generally higher for children and adolescents than for adults and the elderly. Active transportation was greater in the lower income groups (except in the elderly), was lower in the South than in other regions of the US, and was greater in areas with higher urbanization. The percentage of people using active transportation exhibited clear seasonal patterns: high during summer months and low during winter months. Children and adolescents were more sensitive to seasonality than other age groups. Women, non-Caucasians, persons with lower household income, who resided in the Midwest or Northeast, and who lived in more urbanized areas had greater seasonal variation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These descriptive results suggest that interventions and policies that target the promotion of active transportation need to consider socio-demographic factors and seasonality.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-3db5fb9b23dd417d9fa798a76854b4062022-12-21T21:19:50ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682011-09-01819610.1186/1479-5868-8-96Variability and seasonality of active transportation in USA: evidence from the 2001 NHTSBingham C RaymondDiez Roux Ana VYang Yong<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Active transportation including walking and bicycling is an important source of physical activity. Promoting active transportation is a challenge for the fields of public health and transportation. Descriptive data on the predictors of active transportation, including seasonal patterns in active transportation in the US as a whole, is needed to inform interventions and policies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study analyzed monthly variation in active transportation for the US using National Household Travel Survey 2001 data. For each age group of children, adolescents, adults and elderly, logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of the odds of active transportation including gender, race/ethnicity, household income level, geographical region, urbanization level, and month.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The probability of engaging in active transportation was generally higher for children and adolescents than for adults and the elderly. Active transportation was greater in the lower income groups (except in the elderly), was lower in the South than in other regions of the US, and was greater in areas with higher urbanization. The percentage of people using active transportation exhibited clear seasonal patterns: high during summer months and low during winter months. Children and adolescents were more sensitive to seasonality than other age groups. Women, non-Caucasians, persons with lower household income, who resided in the Midwest or Northeast, and who lived in more urbanized areas had greater seasonal variation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These descriptive results suggest that interventions and policies that target the promotion of active transportation need to consider socio-demographic factors and seasonality.</p>http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/8/1/96Active transportationseasonalityNHTS
spellingShingle Bingham C Raymond
Diez Roux Ana V
Yang Yong
Variability and seasonality of active transportation in USA: evidence from the 2001 NHTS
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Active transportation
seasonality
NHTS
title Variability and seasonality of active transportation in USA: evidence from the 2001 NHTS
title_full Variability and seasonality of active transportation in USA: evidence from the 2001 NHTS
title_fullStr Variability and seasonality of active transportation in USA: evidence from the 2001 NHTS
title_full_unstemmed Variability and seasonality of active transportation in USA: evidence from the 2001 NHTS
title_short Variability and seasonality of active transportation in USA: evidence from the 2001 NHTS
title_sort variability and seasonality of active transportation in usa evidence from the 2001 nhts
topic Active transportation
seasonality
NHTS
url http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/8/1/96
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AT diezrouxanav variabilityandseasonalityofactivetransportationinusaevidencefromthe2001nhts
AT yangyong variabilityandseasonalityofactivetransportationinusaevidencefromthe2001nhts