UMass Worcester PRC Publications
Title
Driven to Support: Individual- and County-Level Factors Associated With Public Support for Active Transportation Policies
UMMS Affiliation
Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine; UMass Worcester Prevention Research Center
Publication Date
2018-03-01
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Behavioral Medicine | Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Health Policy | Health Psychology | Preventive Medicine | Public Health Education and Promotion | Transportation
Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess predictors of stated support for policies promoting physically active transportation.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional.
SETTING: US counties selected on county-level physical activity and obesity health status.
PARTICIPANTS: Participants completing random-digit dialed telephone survey (n = 906).
MEASURES: Survey measures assessed stated support for 5 policies to promote physically active transportation, access to active transportation facilities, and time spent in a car. County-level estimates included household car dependence and funding for bicycle-pedestrian projects.
ANALYSIS: Multivariable generalized linear mixed models using binary distribution and logit link, accounting for clustering within county.
RESULTS: Respondents supported policies for accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians through street improvements (89%), school active transportation programs (75%), employer-funded active commuting incentives (67%), and allocation of public funding (68%) and tax support (56%) for building and maintaining public transit. Residents spending > 2 h/d (vs < 0.7 hours) in cars were more likely to support street (odds ratio [OR]: 1.87; confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-3.22) and public transit (OR: 1.85; CI: 1.24-2.77) improvements. Residents in counties investing > $1.6 million in bicycle and pedestrian improvements expressed greater support for funding (OR: 1.71; CI: 1.04-2.83) and tax increases (OR: 1.73; CI: 1.08-2.75) for transit improvements compared to those with lower prior investments ( < $276 100).
CONCLUSION: Support for policies to enable active transportation is higher where relevant investments in active transportation infrastructure are large ( > $1.6 M), public transit is nearby, and respondents drive > 2 h/d.
Keywords
active tranpsort, active transportation, car use, driving, physical activity, policy, public transit
DOI of Published Version
10.1177/0890117117738758
Source
Am J Health Promot. 2018 Mar;32(3):657-666. doi: 10.1177/0890117117738758. Epub 2017 Nov 6. Link to article on publisher's site
Journal/Book/Conference Title
American journal of health promotion : AJHP
Related Resources
PubMed ID
29108441
Repository Citation
Cradock AL, Barrett JL, Chriqui JF, Evenson KR, Goins KV, Gustat J, Heinrich KM, Perry CK, Scanze M, Schmid TL, Tabak RG, Umstattd Meyer MR, Valko C. (2018). Driven to Support: Individual- and County-Level Factors Associated With Public Support for Active Transportation Policies. UMass Worcester PRC Publications. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117117738758. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/prc_pubs/94