Transit and Health: Mode of Transport, Employer-Sponsored Public Transit Pass Programs, and Physical Activity

This study analyzes data from a sample of 4,156 metropolitan Atlanta residents who were interviewed by telephone and kept two-day travel diaries.

  • 10.9% of the sample reported walking for transportation, 2.6% did enough to meet the recommended 30 minutes per day.
  • Participants who took more trips by any mode are more likely to do some walking, additional trips by transit were significantly associated with greater odds of walking.
  • On average, transit users walked 1.72 km per day, but those who did not use transit walked only 0.16 km per day.
  • This study implies that use of transit increases distance walked per day.

Lachapelle, Ugo and Frank, Lawrence D. “Transit and Health: Mode of Transport, Employer-Sponsored Public Transit Pass Programs, and Physical Activity.” Journal of Public Health Policy. 30 (2009): S73-S94.

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