Jessica Stroope, Alex Garn, and Lisa Cadmus-Bertram
Existing survey data allowed researchers to investigate the connection between active transportation and physical activity over time. This study looked at demographic, health, and behavioral information originally collected between 2014-2016. In the survey, 1,957 Wisconsin adults responded to the question “Compared with yourself 10 years ago, would you say that you are more active, less active, or about the same?”.
In general, physical activity decreased as people aged. People who reported more days per week of biking or walking for transportation were, however, more likely to have maintained or increased their activity levels over time. This highlights the importance of active daily routines, particularly through transportation. The findings also point to the potential public health benefits of policies and environments that encourage active transportation.