Examining the relationship between transit use and active transportation in Canada: a time use approach of the active lifestyle of transit users

摘要

The use of public transit has been positively associated with active transportation mainly because active transport is typically required to access and egress stations. Transit users may adopt a lifestyle that enables them to walk and bicycle more to destinations other than transit stops or stations. This study seeks to analyze the relationship between public transit use and active transportation in residents of larger urban areas of Canada. Using an urban sample of the time use module of Canada’s General Social Survey (2005, n= 10,867, weighted to represent 15,298,948 Canadians), meeting Canadian physical activity guidelines of 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity through walking on survey day was assessed using a logistic regression. Using public transit during the day was the main correlate, controlling for socio demographic characteristics and survey day. Transit users (8.5%) met physical activity guidelines (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 1.66 and 2.87 respectively for bus and subway/train) by walking to public transit or to other destinations. Additional analysis of walk time by purpose shows that trip duration do not vary significantly between transit users and non-users once an individual walks for a specific purpose, but a higher proportion of transit users walked for each studied purpose. Above and beyond the walks to public transit stops or stations, transit users perform more active transportation to destinations by taking more trips for various purposes. Promoting public transit use by developing infrastructure may provide health benefits beyond a reduction in travel related energy use and Greenhouse gas emissions.