Introduction

Regular physical activity provides numerous health benefits. The neighbourhood built environment is important for supporting physical activity. Despite higher physical activity among public transit users, the effect of introducing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services on physical activity remains unclear. We undertook a natural experiment which aimed to estimate changes in transit use and physical activity before and after (12-months) a new BRT service replaced a traditional bus service.

Methods

Between August/September 2018 and 2019, a sample of adults (n = 196) (Calgary, Canada) completed two online questionnaires. During the 12-months between questionnaires, new BRT stops replaced existing traditional bus stops. Participants were divided into exposed (n = 80) and comparison (n = 116) groups based on a threshold network distance (800m) between their households and the nearest BRT stop. We undertook propensity score analysis to adjust for baseline differences in sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviours, walkability (Walk Score®), and transit accessibility (Transit Score®) between the exposed and comparison groups and estimated post intervention differences in neighbourhood transportation walking (NWT) and cycling (NTC), moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), and transit use and perceive relative change of physical activity during the last 12-months.

Results

There were no significant differences in weekly minutes of NWT or NTC between the exposed and comparison groups. Groups were also similar in the accumulation of daily sufficient MVPA and perceived relative change in physical activity after 12-months. Compared with non-users, transit users reported higher (p < .05) NTW minutes per week at baseline and follow-up in the exposed group (156.5 vs. 54.0 and 129.0 vs. 60.5, respectively) and at baseline in the comparison group (103.7 vs. 52.9).

Conclusions

Replacing a traditional bus service with a BRT service may have no noticeable immediate impact on physical activity levels.

中文翻译：

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一项为期 12 个月的自然实验，调查以快速公交取代传统公交服务对身体活动的影响

介绍

Regular physical activity provides numerous health benefits. The neighbourhood built environment is important for supporting physical activity. Despite higher physical activity among public transit users, the effect of introducing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services on physical activity remains unclear. We undertook a natural experiment which aimed to estimate changes in transit use and physical activity before and after (12-months) a new BRT service replaced a traditional bus service.

Methods

在 2018 年 8 月/9 月至 2019 年期间，一个成年人样本（n = 196）（加拿大卡尔加里）完成了两份在线问卷。在两次问卷调查之间的 12 个月内，新的 BRT 站点取代了现有的传统公交站点。参与者根据其家庭与最近的 BRT 站点之间的阈值网络距离 (800m) 分为暴露组 (n = 80) 和比较组 (n = 116)。我们进行了倾向评分分析，以调整暴露组和对照组之间社会人口学特征、健康行为、可步行性 (Walk Score®) 和公共交通可达性 (Transit Score®) 的基线差异以及邻里交通步行 (NWT) 的估计干预后差异和骑自行车 (NTC)、中等至剧烈强度的体育活动 (MVPA)、

结果

暴露组和对照组之间每周的 NWT 或 NTC 分钟数没有显着差异。各组在每日足够 MVPA 的积累和 12 个月后身体活动的感知相对变化方面也相似。与非使用者相比，在暴露组（分别为 156.5 对 54.0 和 129.0 对 60.5）和对照组的基线和随访中，公交使用者每周报告的 NTW 分钟数更高（p < .05） （103.7 对 52.9）。

结论

用 BRT 服务取代传统的公交车服务可能不会对身体活动水平产生明显的直接影响。