Healthy People 2010 objectives for health promotion and disease prevention are organized into 28 focus areas. Two focus areas that have common objectives are: 1) physical activity and fitness, and 2) environmental health. Specific objectives relevant to both of these areas are to increase the proportion of trips made by walking and bicycling, and to increase the use of alternative modes of transportation to reduce motor vehicle emissions and improve the Nation's air quality. Limited data are available on the effectiveness of targeted promotional efforts to increase walking and bicycling as part of the daily routine, e.g. commuting to work.
The project described in this presentation is a multilevel intervention involving personal/interpersonal strategies as well as organizational and infrastructure changes aimed at improving air quality by increasing the number of people who ride bikes for transportation. The project involves the collaborative efforts of planners, transit personnel, exercise science researchers, health agency members, environmentalists, and bicycle advocates.
Presenters will: review the relevant health and transportation literature on physically-active commuting; describe the key components of the community-based project; share sample promotional materials; and present empirical data collected as part of this project (i.e. perceived incentives and barriers to physically-active commuting, effectiveness of a bike-to-work week promotional effort [awareness, change in knowledge/beliefs/attitudes, participation, etc.], characteristics of those physically-active commuting, and bicycling gains following simple environmental changes).
This 1-year project is supported by a Massachusetts Highway Department award of Transportation Demand Management funds from the US Department of Transportation.
Learning Objectives: At the conslusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Describe a multi-level community-based intervention to increase physically-active commuting 2. Identify five barriers to physically-active commuting. 3. Discuss methodological issues relevant to research of physically-active commuting
Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Physical Activity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Springfield College, City of Springfield, Massachusetts Highway Department
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment