Changes in mode of travel to work: a natural experimental study of new transport infrastructure

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Research

Roger Mackett¹  David Ogilvie²  Jenna Panter²  Eva Heinen² 

[1] Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT, London, UK;MRC Epidemiology Unit and UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Box 285, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, CB2 0QQ, Cambridge, UK;

关键词: Adults;    Active travel;    Bus;    Commuting;    Evaluation;    Intervention;    Natural experimental study;    Transport infrastructure;    Travel behaviour;    Modal shift;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12966-015-0239-8

 received in 2014-12-15, accepted in 2015-06-12,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundNew transport infrastructure may promote a shift towards active travel, thereby improving population health. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a major transport infrastructure project on commuters’ mode of travel, trip frequency and distance travelled to work.MethodsQuasi-experimental analysis nested within a cohort study of 470 adults working in Cambridge, UK. The intervention consisted of the opening of a guided busway with a path for walking and cycling in 2011. Exposure to the intervention was defined as the negative of the square root of the shortest distance from home to busway. The outcome measures were changes in commute mode share and number of commute trips — both based on a seven-day travel-to-work record collected before (2009) and after (2012) the intervention — and change in objective commute distance. The mode share outcomes were changes in the proportions of trips (i) involving any active travel, (ii) involving any public transport, and (iii) made entirely by car. Separate multinomial regression models were estimated adjusting for commute and sociodemographic characteristics, residential settlement size and life events.ResultsProximity to the busway predicted an increased likelihood of a large (>30 %) increase in the share of commute trips involving any active travel (relative risk ratio [RRR] 1.80, 95 % CI 1.27, 2.55) and a large decrease in the share of trips made entirely by car (RRR 2.09, 95 % CI 1.35, 3.21), as well as a lower likelihood of a small (<30 %) reduction in the share of trips involving any active travel (RRR 0.47, 95 % CI 0.28, 0.81). It was not associated with changes in the share of commute trips involving any public transport, the number of commute trips, or commute distance.ConclusionsThe new infrastructure promoted an increase in the share of commuting trips involving active travel and a decrease in the share made entirely by car. Further analysis will show the extent to which the changes in commute mode share were translated into an increase in time spent in active commuting and consequent health gain.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Heinen et al. 2015