Individual, social, and environmental factors associated with active transportation commuting during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective Physical inactivity is a major public health concern. Though active transportation through bicycling and walking can increase physical activity and thereby positively affect health, factors that influence people's decisions to commute using active transportation modes remain underexplored and often fail to capture equity-related barriers. Increases in active transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic call for a better understanding of these influences. This study examines the commute mode choices of essential workers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA to explore the extent to which active transportation to work is explained by individual, social, and environmental factors and whether active transportation choices reflect inequalities. Methods Drawing on the theory of planned behavior and the social-ecological model, this study utilizes data from an online survey (N = 213) completed between June and August 2020. Bivariate analyses compare respondents who commuted using active transportation modes to those who did not using chi-square and ANOVA tests. A series of logistic regression models using forward stepwise selection, controlling for demographic characteristics and commute distance, identify salient individual, social, and environmental factors associated with active transportation. Results Nearly half of respondents changed their commute mode during the pandemic, most often to limit exposure to COVID-19. The full model, accounting for 54% of variation in active transportation commuting, indicated significantly lower odds of active transportation use among non-white (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.155) respondents and those who reported time constraints (OR: 0.450), concerns about safety from traffic (OR: 0.482), and greater satisfaction with community support for bicycling and pedestrian issues (OR: 0.551) and significantly higher odds among those who reported safety concerns around germs (OR: 1.580). Conclusions Structural and social investments that make bicycling and walking safer commuting alternatives during COVID-19 could protect essential works and contribute to sustained behavior change. Community engagement is essential for implementation efforts.

Understanding the perceived behavior of public utility bus passengers during the era of COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines: Application of social exchange theory and theory of planned behavior

“… Deveci et al (2019) ; Nordhoff et al (2021) ; Aghabayk et al (2021) Economic Benefit EB1 Public utility bus fares are fair and affordable. Jeong & Oh (2017); Cusack (2021) EB2 I only allot a small percentage of my income for travel expenses. Rasoolimanesh et al (2015) EB3 I am able to save money when riding public utility bus.…”

“…The past study utilized data concerning COVID-19 cases and travel patterns to assess policy lags and effects on the transportation sector in New York City and Seattle City, United States. Cusack (2021) explored the employees' alternative transport modes aside from public transits and private vehicles. They found that almost half of the employees residing in Philadelphia City, Pennsylvania, United States transitioned from public transits to active transportation (bicycling and walking).…”

The Associations of COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions With Longer-Term Activity Levels of Working Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Cohort Study

“…For this study, less incidental activity could have contributed to the observed prolonging of sedentary bouts. This could be due to a number of reasons such as minimizing movement to reduce chance of transmission in the community [ 40 ], anxiety leaving the house [ 41 ], a reduction in physically active commuting [ 42 ], and widespread changes to permitted activities in the neighborhood environment [ 43 ]. It has previously been reported that fitness-oriented walking was surmised to have increased due to it being designated as one of the permissible reasons to leave home during restrictions [ 39 ].…”

Changes in Active Behaviours, Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Physical Fitness in Chilean Parents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Study

“…For instance, research from Philadelphia (US) found that nearly half of essential workers changed their mode of commuting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The main reasons mentioned were safety and potential exposure to the virus [7]. Similarly, the "Canadian National Survey Data" showed that all modes of commuting declined, whereas telework increased [40], as seen in the Chilean context.…”

“…Given the high risks of contagion, health policy makers established different strategies to stem the spread, with some of the restrictions remaining in place today in order to complement other public health strategies [6]. Not only has COVID-19 itself had detrimental effects on emotional health and well-being and caused cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurologic manifestations [2], but the strategies to reduce spread have also had implications on other behaviours associated 2 of 15 with health, such as the mode of commuting, decrease in physical activity (PA), and increase in sedentary time [7,8]. It has been previously shown that low fitness increases the risk of early mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer [9], as well as mental health outcomes [10].…”