Transit Use by Children and Adolescents: An Overlooked Source of and Opportunity for Physical Activity?

• Published in: Journal of physical activity & health 2016-08, Vol.13 (8), p.861-866
• Main Authors: Durand, Casey P, Pettee Gabriel, Kelley K, Hoelscher, Deanna M, Kohl, 3rd, Harold W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Humans; Male; Public transportation; Teenagers; Transportation - statistics & numerical data; Walking - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 1543-3080; 1543-5474
• DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2015-0444

The potential for adults to accrue significant physical activity through public transit use is a topic of interest. However, there are no data on analogous questions among children. The goal of this analysis was to quantify patterns of transit use and correlates of transit-related physical activity among children aged 5 to 17 years. Data for this cross-sectional study came from the 2012 California Household Travel Survey. Probit regressions modeled the probability of transit use; negative binomial regressions modeled minutes/day in transit-related active travel. Public transit use accounted for 3% of trips in California in 2012. Older Hispanic youth and those residing in areas with greater housing density and county size had a higher probability of transit use. Driver licensure, home ownership, household income, and vehicles in household were negatively correlated with public transit use. Race/ethnicity, income, and transit type were correlated with time spent in active travel to/ from transit. Given its importance as a source of physical activity for some children, researchers should consider assessment of public transit-related activity in physical activity measurement instruments. Efforts to encourage active travel should consider how to incorporate transit-related activity, both from a measurement perspective and as an intervention strategy.