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Active Commuting Behaviors in a Nordic Metropolitan Setting in Relation to Modality, Gender, and Health Recommendations

Author

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  • Erik Stigell

    (Research Unit for Movement, Health and Environment, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, GIH, Stockholm SE-114 86, Sweden)

  • Peter Schantz

    (Research Unit for Movement, Health and Environment, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, GIH, Stockholm SE-114 86, Sweden
    Unit for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå SE-901 87, Sweden)

Abstract

Active commuting between home and place of work or study is often cited as an interesting source of physical activity in a public health perspective. However, knowledge about these behaviors is meager. This was therefore studied in adult active commuters ( n = 1872) in Greater Stockholm, Sweden, a Nordic metropolitan setting. They received questionnaires and individually adjusted maps to draw their normal commuting route. Three different modality groups were identified in men and women: single-mode cyclists and pedestrians (those who only cycle or walk, respectively) and dual-mode commuters (those who alternately walk or cycle). Some gender differences were observed in trip distances, frequencies, and velocities. A large majority of the commuting trip durations met the minimum health recommendation of at least 10-minute-long activity bouts. The median single-mode pedestrians and dual-mode commuters met or were close to the recommended weekly physical activity levels of at least 150 minutes most of the year, whereas the single-mode cyclists did so only during spring–mid-fall. A high total number of trips per year (range of medians: 230–390) adds to the value in a health perspective. To fully grasp active commuting behaviors in future studies, both walking and cycling should be assessed over different seasons and ideally over the whole year.

Suggested Citation

  • Erik Stigell & Peter Schantz, 2015. "Active Commuting Behaviors in a Nordic Metropolitan Setting in Relation to Modality, Gender, and Health Recommendations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-23, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:12:p:15008-15648:d:60272
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dan Andersson & Lina Wahlgren & Karin Sofia Elisabeth Olsson & Peter Schantz, 2023. "Pedestrians’ Perceptions of Motorized Traffic Variables in Relation to Appraisals of Urban Route Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-27, February.

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