University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Acceptability and perceived feasibility of strategies to increase public transport use for physical activity gain - a mixed methods study

Issue Addressed: Public transport (PT) users typically accumulate more physical activity (PA) than motor vehicle users. This mixed methods study aimed to determine acceptability and perceived effectiveness of strategies to increase bus use for PA gain in a regional Australian setting.

Methods: In a 2017 online survey, Tasmanian adults (n = 1091) rated the likelihood of increasing their bus use according to ten hypothetical strategies (fare-, incentives-, information- or infrastructure-based). Three focus groups and five interviews (n = 31) included infrequent bus users from the survey to determine reasons for strategy preferences and potential impact on PA.

Results: The top three strategies in the survey, with supporting rationale from qualitative data, were: provision of real-time bus information ("…because I can better plan…"); bus-only lanes ("…it just speeds the whole thing up…") and employee incentives/rewards for example bus fare credits ("…it really comes down to money…"). Full-time students favoured cost-saving strategies most and residents in outer suburbs favoured infrastructure-based strategies most. Qualitative data indicated that potential for enhanced certainty, efficiency or cost-savings drove strategy preferences and some strategies may lead to PA gain (eg through the location of Park and Ride facilities).

Conclusions: Real-time information, bus-only lanes and employee incentives/rewards appear most promising for increasing bus use in this population, but tailoring strategies may be required. Discrete PT enhancement strategies may result in PA gain. SO WHAT?: Increasing PA through transport behaviour has been underexplored. The potential for PA gain through greater PT use and discrete PT use enhancement strategies is an important public health consideration.

Summary: Public transport use can lead to physical activity (PA) gain. About 1091 adult Tasmanian survey respondents favoured three/ten strategies to increase bus use: real-time bus information, bus-only lanes and employee incentives/rewards. Follow-up focus groups/interviews (n = 31) indicated: potential for better certainty, efficiency or cost-savings drove strategy preferences; some strategies may facilitate PA gain.

History

Publication title

Health Promotion Journal of Australia

Pagination

1-14

ISSN

2201-1617

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Place of publication

United Kingdom

Rights statement

Copyright 2019 Australian Health Promotion Association

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Health policy evaluation; Behaviour and health

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC