Health Indicator Report of Community Design: Types of Transportation to Work

Taking public transportation, carpooling, walking, or bicycling to work can have environmental, economic, and personal health benefits.^1^ Walking, bicycling, and public transportation promote regular physical activity, reduce traffic congestion, and decrease air pollution from cars, which in turn reduce chronic disease rates, obesity rates, and traffic-related fatalities.^2^ Higher rates of walking and bicycling to work are related to a lower percentage of obesity levels in communities. Commuting by car has generally been associated with reduced physical activity, increased body mass index, and increased levels of obesity.^3^ Commuting by bicycle or walking provides an opportunity to achieve recommended amounts of daily physical activity. Public transportation also provides an opportunity for physical activity as users often combine it with walking or bicycling. Supportive infrastructure such as sidewalks, bike lanes, and public transportation make these commute options feasible and safer.^4^ [[br]][[br]] ---- 1. Pucher J, Dill J, Handy S. Infrastructure, programs, and policies to increase bicycling: An international review. Preventive Medicine. 2010;50(S):S106-S25. [[br]] 2. Jilcott, S.B., et al., Commute times, food retail gaps, and body mass index in North Carolina counties. Prev Chronic Dis, 2010. 7(5): p. A107. [[br]] 3. Christian, T.J., Trade-offs between commuting time and health-related activities. J Urban Health, 2012. 89(5): p. 746-57. [[br]] 4. Yang, W., et al., Evaluation of personal and built environment attributes to physical activity: a multilevel analysis on multiple population-based data sources. J Obes, 2012. 2012: p. 548910.