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Published on: March 7, 2019
Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA): a study protocol for a multicentre project
Regine Gerike1, Audrey de Nazelle2, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen3
1University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Institute for Transport Studies, Vienna, Austria Dresden University of Technology, Chair of Integrated Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering, Dresden, Germany.
Promoting active mobility through walking and cycling can increase physical activity and reduce non-communicable disease risks. The PASTA project investigates correlates and interventions for active mobility to improve health impact assessments.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Transport Planning
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Physical inactivity affects one-third of Europeans, increasing non-communicable disease risk.
- Active mobility (AM), including walking and cycling for transport, offers a viable solution for regular physical activity.
- The PASTA project addresses the need for better understanding and promotion of AM.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate correlates of active mobility, physical activity, air pollution, and crash risk.
- Evaluate interventions designed to promote active mobility.
- Enhance health impact assessment (HIA) methods for active mobility.
- Foster interdisciplinary collaboration between public health and transport planning.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-method, multilevel approach was employed across seven European cities.
- A large-scale longitudinal survey of 14,000 respondents was conducted.
- Systematic gathering of contextual factors and empirical data generation for HIA.
Main Results:
- Findings will improve HIA for active mobility, including crash risk estimates and AM-PA substitution.
- Data will inform the WHO's Health Economic Assessment Tool on cycling and walking benefits.
- The study provides insights into correlates and effective interventions for promoting AM.
Conclusions:
- Active mobility is crucial for public health and sustainable transport.
- Interdisciplinary research and practice exchange are vital for promoting AM.
- PASTA's findings offer significant contributions to research and practical implementation.
