Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA): protocol for a multi-centre, longitudinal study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Urban Planning
• Transportation Science

Background:

• Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases.
• Active mobility (walking/cycling for transport) offers a way to integrate physical activity into daily life.
• The PASTA study addresses the need for better understanding of active mobility's role in public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate correlates of active mobility.
• To assess the impact of active mobility on overall physical activity levels.
• To examine the relationship between active mobility, crash risk, and exposure to traffic-related air pollution.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal cohort study across seven European cities with 14,000 adult participants.
• Online questionnaires combined with objective measures (accelerometers, GPS, tracking apps) for travel behavior and physical activity.
• Health biomarker assessment, exposure-adjusted crash risk calculation, and built environment analysis.

Main Results:

• The study collects comprehensive subjective and objective data on active mobility and physical activity.
• Data allows for detailed investigation into factors influencing active mobility.
• Rich dataset enables advanced analysis of physical activity, transport, and health outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The PASTA study provides extensive data to advance understanding of active mobility.
• Findings will inform health impact assessment models for urban environments.
• Results will support initiatives promoting active mobility and healthier city living.