National Household Travel Survey

Objectives: To describe and estimate the prevalence of dog walking using a nationwide sample. Methods: 2009 National Household Travel Survey data (N = 5100) were analyzed for: duration of dog walks, number of dog walks/day, total dog walking minutes/day. Results: In a one-day period, 67% of dog walkers took at least one walk ≥10 minutes, 20% walked a dog for at least 30 minutes, and 28% took more than one dog walk. Older participants and participants with children were more likely to accumulate ≥ 30 minutes of dog walking in a one-day period. Conclusions: A majority of dog walks occurred in bouts ≥ 10 minutes, suggesting dog walking is a legitimate form of health-enhancing physical activity which contributes to meeting physical activity guidelines. Subject Area: Pets; Physical Activity; Walking Availability: Richards, Elizabeth A. "Prevalence of Dog Walking and Sociodemographic Characteristics of Dog Walkers in the US: An Update from 2001." American Journal of Health Behavior 39.4 (2015): 500-506. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/png/ajhb/2015/00000039/00000004/art00006 PeopleForBikes: Much of what we thought we knew about women and bikes was wrong Brian -staff Abstract: PeopleForBikes says new analysis of its research into American bicycling shows that many assumptions about women and bikes are wrong. The study of women and bicycling used data from PFP’s participation study, released earlier this year. Regarding women and cycling, the study showed that 45 million American women rode a bike outsides at least once last year, compared to 59 million men. The gender gap was considerably smaller than that shown by other studies; for example, the 2009 National Household Travel Survey found that just 24 percent of bicycle trips were made by women. PeopleForBikes says new analysis of its research into American bicycling shows that many assumptions about women and bikes are wrong. The study of women and bicycling used data from PFP’s participation study, released earlier this year. Regarding women and cycling, the study showed that 45 million American women rode a bike outsides at least once last year, compared to 59 million men. The gender gap was considerably smaller than that shown by other studies; for example, the 2009 National Household Travel Survey found that just 24 percent of bicycle trips were made by women. Subject Area: bicycle, women Availability: www.bicycleretailer.com PeopleForBikes: Much of what we thought we knew about women and bikes was wrong Brian –staff; May 28, 2015 http://www.bicycleretailer.com/studies-reports/2015/05/28/peopleforbikes-much-what-wethought-we-knew-about-women-and-bikes-was Energy Flux and its Role in Obesity and Metabolic Disease Gregory Hand and Steven N. Blair Abstract: In order to reverse the global obesity pandemic, there is a need for an enhanced understanding of the energy dynamics that underlie the problem. To maintain a stable body weight, energy intake must, over time, match or equal energy expenditure, a concept known as energy balance. Obesity results from a positive state of energy balance (i.e. when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure). However, recent research suggests that strategies to combat obesity should focus on energy flux (the amount of calories going through a system), rather than energy balance alone. In other words, it is easier to maintain weight loss at higher levels of physical activity. Recent findings suggest that a high energy flux, maintained by increasing energy expenditure, can improve an individual’s metabolic profile without changing weight. Further understanding of this concept may help in the design of interventions to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. In order to reverse the global obesity pandemic, there is a need for an enhanced understanding of the energy dynamics that underlie the problem. To maintain a stable body weight, energy intake must, over time, match or equal energy expenditure, a concept known as energy balance. Obesity results from a positive state of energy balance (i.e. when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure). However, recent research suggests that strategies to combat obesity should focus on energy flux (the amount of calories going through a system), rather than energy balance alone. In other words, it is easier to maintain weight loss at higher levels of physical activity. Recent findings suggest that a high energy flux, maintained by increasing energy expenditure, can improve an individual’s metabolic profile without changing weight. Further understanding of this concept may help in the design of interventions to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Subject Area: Energy balance, energy flux, obesity, metabolic disease Availability: Hand, Gregory A., and Steven N. Blair. "Search Site." http://www.touchendocrinology.com/articles/energy-flux-and-its-role-obesity-and-metabolicdisease Analysing bicycle-sharing system user destination choice preferences: Chicago’s Divvy system Ahmadreza Faghih-Imania & Naveen Eluru Abstract: In recent years, there has been increasing attention on bicycle-sharing systems (BSS) as a viable and sustainable mode of transportation for short trips. However, due to the relatively recent adoption of BSS, there is very little research exploring how people consider these systems within existing transportation options. Given recent BSS growth around the world, there is substantial interest in identifying contributing factors that encourage individuals to use these systems. The current study contributes to this growing literature by examining BSS behavior at the trip level to analyze bicyclists’ destination preferences. Specifically, we study the decision process involved in identifying destination locations after picking up a bicycle at a BSS station, using a random utility maximization approach in the form of a multinomial logit model (MNL). The quantitative frameworks developed have been estimated using 2013 data from the Chicago’s Divvy system. In our modeling effort, we distinguish between BSS users with annual membership and short-term customers with daily passes. The developed model should allow bicycle-sharing system operators to plan services more effectively by examining the impact of travel distance, land use, built environment, and access to public transportation infrastructure on users’ destination preferences. Using the estimated model, we generated utility profiles as a function of distance and various other attributes, allowing us to represent visually the trade-offs that individuals make in the decision process. To illustrate further the applicability of the proposed framework for planning purposes, destination station-choice probability prediction is undertaken. In recent years, there has been increasing attention on bicycle-sharing systems (BSS) as a viable and sustainable mode of transportation for short trips. However, due to the relatively recent adoption of BSS, there is very little research exploring how people consider these systems within existing transportation options. Given recent BSS growth around the world, there is substantial interest in identifying contributing factors that encourage individuals to use these systems. The current study contributes to this growing literature by examining BSS behavior at the trip level to analyze bicyclists’ destination preferences. Specifically, we study the decision process involved in identifying destination locations after picking up a bicycle at a BSS station, using a random utility maximization approach in the form of a multinomial logit model (MNL). The quantitative frameworks developed have been estimated using 2013 data from the Chicago’s Divvy system. In our modeling effort, we distinguish between BSS users with annual membership and short-term customers with daily passes. The developed model should allow bicycle-sharing system operators to plan services more effectively by examining the impact of travel distance, land use, built environment, and access to public transportation infrastructure on users’ destination preferences. Using the estimated model, we generated utility profiles as a function of distance and various other attributes, allowing us to represent visually the trade-offs that individuals make in the decision process. To illustrate further the applicability of the proposed framework for planning purposes, destination station-choice probability prediction is undertaken. Subject Area: Bicycle sharing systems; Divvy Chicago; Destination choice; Location choice; Multinomial logit model; Bicycle infrastructure Availability: Faghih-Imani, Ahmadreza, and Naveen Eluru. "Analysing bicycle-sharing system user destination choice preferences: Chicago’s Divvy system." Journal of Transport Geography 44 (2015): 53-64. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0966692315000459 Albert Lea shows how walking and other healthy habits can rejuvenate a rural community Jay Walljasper Abstract: Albert Lea, MN is working to prove that healthy lifestyles like walking and good nutrition are not just big city things. Albert Lea, MN is working to prove that healthy lifestyles like walking and good nutrition are not just big city things. Subject Area: walking, small town Availability: www.Minnpost.com Albert Lea shows how walking and other healthy habits can rejuvenate a rural community May 22, 2015 Jay Walljasper https://www.minnpost.com/health/2015/05/albert-lea-shows-how-walking-and-other-healthyhabits-can-rejuvenate-rural-community What is Causing the Worldwide Rise in Body Weight? Robin P Shook, Steven N Blair, John Duperly, Gregory A Hand, Sandra M Matsudo, & Joanne L Slavin Abstract: The worldwide rise in body weight has reached epidemic proportions and this has serious public health consequences. Despite the universal recognition of this problem, its causes are still debated: some attribute it to excess caloric intake; others blame a lack of physical activity (PA); some implicate specific changes to microand macro-nutrients. During the past century, government health agencies have developed guidance on healthy eating. These, along with advances in agriculture and food manufacturing, have largely eliminated nutrient deficiencies and helped reduce the consumption of fat. Over the past 60 years, however, technological advances and shifts in the types of occupations prominent in industrialized as well as developing countries have resulted in well-documented decreases in energy expenditure. Energy intake must be balanced with energy expenditure in order to prevent weight gain, and there is increasing evidence that this balance must be at a relatively high level of energy flux. A program that was started in São Paulo in 1996 known as ‘Agita’ has sought to motivate populations to engage in small amounts of physical exercise daily to tackle growing obesity levels. This multi-agency initiative is one example of how to successfully increase exercise within a community and scale both within (e.g. all states in Brazil) and across many nations. Reducing caloric intake in whole populations is challenging especially at relatively low levels of energy expenditure, and evidence suggests that there is a critical energy flux threshold for regulating intake to achieve energy balance. Increasing PA, however, may be more achievable than reducing intake. Activity raises caloric expenditure and can offset excess intake. The implementation of programs to achieve greater PA is therefore vital if the worldwide rise in body weight is to be halted, while we also need to implement programs to help people eat smarter. The worldwide rise in body weight has reached epidemic proportions and this has serious public health consequences. Despite the universal recognition of this problem, its causes are still debated: some attribute it to excess caloric intake; others blame a lack of physical activity (PA); some implicate specific changes to microand macro-nutrients. During the past century, government health agencies have developed guidance on healthy eating. These, along with advances in agriculture and food manufacturing, have largely eliminated nutrient deficiencies and helped reduce the consumption of fat. Over the past 60 years, however, technological advances and shifts in the types of occupations prominent in industrialized as well as developing countries have resulted in well-documented decreases in energy expenditure. Energy intake must be balanced with energy expenditure in order to prevent weight gain, and there is increasing evidence that this balance must be at a relatively high level of energy flux. A program that was started in São Paulo in 1996 known as ‘Agita’ has sought to motivate populations to engage in small amounts of physical exercise daily to tackle growing obesity levels. This multi-agency initiative is one example of how to successfully increase exercise within a community and scale both within (e.g. all states in Brazil) and across many nations. Reducing caloric intake in whole populations is challenging especially at relatively low levels of energy expenditure, and evidence suggests that there is a critical energy flux threshold for regulating intake to achieve energy balance. Increasing PA, however, may be more achievable than reducing intake. Activity raises caloric expenditure and can offset excess intake. The implementation of programs to achieve greater PA is therefore vital if the worldwide rise in body weight is to be halted, while we also need to implement programs to help people eat smarter. Subject Area: Physical activity, energy intake, energy expenditure, overweight, obesity epidemic, diet, energy balance, energy flux, guidelines Availability: Shook, Robin P., et al. US Endocrinology 2014; 10(1):44–52 DOI: 10.17925/USE.2014.10.01.44 http://www.touchendocrinology.com/articles/what-causingworldwide-rise-body-weight Utilitarian and Recreational Walking Differ in Their Associations with the Built Environment Bumjoon Kang, Anne V. Moudon, Philip M. Hurvitz, & Brian E. Saelens