Correlates of walking for travel in seven European cities: The PASTA project

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Mireia Gascon - , Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) Hospital Clínic, Pompeu Fabra University, CIBER - Center for Biomedical Research Network (Author)
  • Thomas Götschi - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Audrey de Nazelle - , Imperial College London (Author)
  • Esther Gracia - , Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) Hospital Clínic, Pompeu Fabra University, CIBER - Center for Biomedical Research Network (Author)
  • Albert Ambròs - , Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) Hospital Clínic, Pompeu Fabra University, CIBER - Center for Biomedical Research Network (Author)
  • Sandra Márquez - , Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) Hospital Clínic, Pompeu Fabra University, CIBER - Center for Biomedical Research Network (Author)
  • Oriol Marquet - , Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) Hospital Clínic, Pompeu Fabra University, CIBER - Center for Biomedical Research Network (Author)
  • Ione Avila-Palencia - , Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) Hospital Clínic, Pompeu Fabra University, CIBER - Center for Biomedical Research Network (Author)
  • Christian Brand - , University of Oxford (Author)
  • Francesco Iacorossi - , Agenzia Roma Servizi per la Mobilita' Srl (Author)
  • Elisabeth Raser - , University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Author)
  • Mailin Gaupp-Berghausen - , University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Author)
  • Evi Dons - , Hasselt University, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (Author)
  • Michelle Laeremans - , Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Hasselt University (Author)
  • Sonja Kahlmeier - , University of Zurich (Author)
  • Julian Sánchez - , Imperial College London (Author)
  • Regine Gerike - , Chair of Mobility System Planning (Author)
  • Esther Anaya-Boig - , Imperial College London (Author)
  • Luc Int Panis - , Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Hasselt University (Author)
  • Mark Nieuwenhuijsen - , Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) Hospital Clínic, Pompeu Fabra University, CIBER - Center for Biomedical Research Network (Author)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although walking for travel can help in reaching the daily recommended levels of physical activity, we know relatively little about the correlates of walking for travel in the European context. OBJECTIVE: Within the frame work of the European Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA) project, we aimed to explore the correlates of walking for travel in European cities. METHODS: The same protocol was applied in seven European cities. Using a web-based questionnaire, we collected information on total minutes of walking per week, individual characteristics, mobility behavior, and attitude (N=7, 875). Characteristics of the built environment (the home and the work/study addresses) were determined with geographic information system (GIS)-based techniques. We conducted negative binomial regression analyses, including city as a random effect. Factor and principal component analyses were also conducted to define profiles of the different variables of interest. RESULTS: Living in high-density residential areas with richness offacilities and density of public transport stations was associated with increased walking for travel,where as the same characteristics at the work/study are a were less strongly associated with the outcome when the residential and work/study environments were entered in the model jointly. A walk-friendly social environment was associated with walking for travel. All three factors describing different opinions about walking (ranging from good to bad) were associated with increased minutes of walking per week, although the importance given to certain criteria to choose a mode of transport provided different results according to the criteria. DISCUSSION: The present study supports findings from previous research regarding the role of the built environment in the promotion of walking for travel and provides new findings to help in achieving sustainable, healthy, livable, and walkable cities. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP4603.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number097003
JournalEnvironmental health perspectives
Volume127
Issue number9
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 31532248