External link: http://amonline.trb.org/trb60693-2016-1.2807374/t010-1.2820652/309-1.2820975/16-3829-1.2817868/16-3829-1.2820976?qr=1

Publication date: January 1, 2016

Capsule summary: Researchers surveyed people in rural Montana to examine factors that influenced travel decisions, and to examine how active travel affects Body Mass Index (BMI).

Author(s): Wang, Yiyi; Wu, Hui; Matsuda, Meia

Publisher(s): TRB

Definition: Examining the public health impacts of transportation
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/research-themes/public-health
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
TRID Search Results Page: https://trid.trb.org/results.aspx?tc=NN:TTus
TRT Search Results Page: http://trt.trb.org/trt.asp?NN=Ttus

Definition: Planning practices for pedestrians, bikes and transit
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/research-theme/bikeped/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
TRID Search Results Page: https://trid.trb.org/results.aspx?tc=NN:Aex
TRT Search Results Page: https://trt.trb.org/trt.asp?NN=Aex

Definitions: The movement of people
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/mode/personal/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
TRID Search Results Page: https://trid.trb.org/results.aspx?tc=NN:Ajp
TRT Search Results Page: https://trt.trb.org/trt.asp?NN=Ajp

Definitions: Transportation on foot
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/mode/personal/pedestrian/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
TRID Search Results Page: https://trid.trb.org/results.aspx?tc=NN:Mwx
TRT Search Results Page: https://trt.trb.org/trt.asp?NN=Mwx

Definitions: Transportation by bicycle
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/mode/personal/bicycle/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
TRID Search Results Page: https://trid.trb.org/results.aspx?tc=NN:Bmbd
TRT Search Results Page: https://trt.trb.org/trt.asp?NN=Bmbd

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Definition: Article from an academic or professional journal
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/resource-type/article/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
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Description: There is relatively little in the existing literature on active transportation in rural areas, and such research is often stymied by misconceptions that active travel is uncommon and produces few benefits for such regions. In this study, researchers conducted a transportation-health survey in three rural towns in Montana to identify factors that influenced travel decisions, and to examine how active travel affects Body Mass Index (BMI).

Objectives: This study examined how residents from three rural towns in Montana perceived active transportation networks, and how their perceptions of these networks affected their travel behaviors. Researchers used BMI as the primary health indicator, and in conjunction with attitude variables, sought to find underlying trends relating to the built environment, active transportation, and health.

Findings: This study found that the presence of active transportation networks contributed to a higher adoption rate of non-motorized modes, as well as health (BMI) benefits. Residents of these rural communities also showed relatively strong support for the construction of new bike/walk infrastructure and the improvement of bike/walk facilities. Additionally, no substitution pattern was found between leisure-time physical activity and active travel; that is, people who exercised more than average also tended to undertake more active travel.

Recommendations: As safety concerns were major influences on transportation choices in these rural communities, facility improvements and additions that would make people feel safer would be an effective way of increasing active travel. Though rural areas do have a great potential for active transportation, their unique challenges mean that the best solutions may not look like those found in urban areas, and as such, bike/walk infrastructure interventions should be designed with the particular qualities of the landscape in mind.

Research Theme: Planning for Pedestrians, Bikes, and Transit, Public Health

Community Type: Rural

Transportation Mode: Bicycle, Pedestrian, Personal

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