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Trading-Off Transit and Non-Transit Physical Activity among Older People: Evidence from Longitudinal Accelerometer
Eun Yeong Choe1, Dongsheng He1, Guibo Sun2
1Urban Analytics and Interventions Research Lab, Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Summary
New metro lines in Hong Kong increased transit physical activity (PA) in older adults but decreased non-transit PA, revealing a trade-off. This highlights impacts on healthy aging and transport interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Urban Planning
- Gerontology
Background:
- Public transportation infrastructure development, like new metro lines, can influence population physical activity (PA).
- Understanding the specific impacts on different types of PA (transit-related vs. non-transit-related) is crucial for effective health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the trade-offs between transit-related and non-transit-related physical activity among older adults following the introduction of a new metro line.
- To quantify changes in physical activity patterns in older individuals (≥65 years) in response to improved public transit access.
Main Methods:
- A natural experiment design was employed, focusing on the opening of a new metro line in Hong Kong.
- Longitudinal accelerometer data were used to differentiate and measure transit-related and non-transit-related physical activity.
- Difference-in-difference (DID) analysis compared PA changes between exposed (treatment) and unexposed (control) groups.
Main Results:
- The opening of new metro stations led to an average daily increase of 12 minutes in transit-related PA.
- Concurrently, non-transit-related PA decreased by an average of 18 minutes per day.
- The proportion of time spent in transit-related PA increased by 6% post-metro line opening.
Conclusions:
- New metro stations can stimulate physical activity associated with public transit use among older adults.
- However, this increase in transit PA may come at the expense of other forms of physical activity, indicating a potential displacement effect.
- Findings underscore the complex trade-offs of public transit interventions on physical activity and have implications for transport policy and healthy aging research.
