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Step Count Disparities Across Japan by Commuting Modes and Population Density: Focusing on Within-Week Variations
Kimihiro Hino1, Yinan Chen1, Masamitsu Kamada2
1Department of Urban Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Weekend step counts are lower than weekdays, especially for public transport users in less populated areas. Shifting from cars to walking or rail can increase daily physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Urban Planning
- Physical Activity Research
Background:
- Commuting modes significantly influence daily physical activity levels.
- The built environment and population density shape transportation choices.
- Understanding within-week variations in physical activity is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine differences in daily step counts based on commuting mode and population density.
- To analyze variations in physical activity between weekdays and weekend days.
- To investigate the impact of the built environment on commuting-related physical activity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of step count data from 938,568 smartphone users in Japan.
- Data collected on a typical weekday and a weekend day.
- Commuting mode and personal characteristics obtained via questionnaire; population density as a proxy for the built environment.
Main Results:
- Weekend step counts were generally lower than weekday counts across all commuting modes and population densities.
- The weekday-weekend difference in step counts was more significant for public transport users, particularly in low-density areas.
- Rail and pedestrian commuters consistently showed higher step counts than motor vehicle users on both weekdays and weekends.
Conclusions:
- Promoting modal shifts from motor vehicles to rail and walking is recommended to reduce step count disparities.
- Integrating diverse data sources is valuable for population health assessment and policy development.
- Addressing built environment factors can enhance public health through increased physical activity.

