Active travel to work in NSW: trends over time and the effect of social advantage
Alexis Zander A C E , Chris Rissel B , Kris Rogers D and Adrian Bauman D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Public Health Officer Training Program, Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health, 73 Miller St, North Sydney, NSW 2055, Australia.
B Sydney School of Public Health, Charles Perkins Centre (D17), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
C School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
D Prevention Research Collaboration, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, 92–94 Parramatta Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: lexizander@yahoo.co.uk
Health Promotion Journal of Australia 25(3) 167-173 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE14004
Submitted: 25 January 2014 Accepted: 23 October 2014 Published: 8 December 2014
Journal Compilation © Australian Health Promotion Association 2014
Abstract
Issues addressed: Active travel can increase population levels of physical activity, but should be promoted equitably. Socio-economic advantage, housing location and/or car ownership influence walking and cycling (active travel) for transport. We examined active commuting over time in the Sydney Greater Metropolitan Region, and associations between active commuting and socioeconomic advantage, urban/rural location and car ownership at a Local Government Area (LGA) level across New South Wales (NSW).
Methods: Journey to work data from the 2001, 2006 and 2011 Australian Census were examined. Associations between levels of active commuting in each LGA in NSW and the Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA), Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) and car ownership were examined using negative binomial regression modelling.
Results: Between 2001 and 2011, active commuting increased in inner Sydney (relative increase of 24%), decreased slightly in outer Sydney (declined 5.1%) and declined in the Greater Metropolitan Region (down 15%). Overall, active commuting increased slightly (6.8% relative increase). After adjusting for the LGA age and sex profile and all other LGA variables, people living in NSW LGAs with high socioeconomic status, more rural areas and low car ownership were more likely to cycle or walk to work.
Conclusions: More needs to be done in NSW to increase levels of active commuting consistently across regions and socio-demographic groups.
So what?: Despite small increases in active travel in the Sydney region, active travel patterns are not evenly distributed across locations or populations.
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