01370086

Component

The recent decrease in physical activity among youth, which has resulted in increasing obesity and in overweight individuals, has attracted global attention and a renewed sense of investigation in both public and academic circles. However, the utilization of active modes of transportation (AMT) to and from school can serve as a bulwark against inactivity and the spread of these diseases. In an attempt to study and counteract this growing phenomenon, the authors distributed over 4,700 questionnaires in 92 schools throughout all of Tehran’s regions in a random stratified sampling method according to geographical location and gender differences, and received 3,441 responses, resulting in a 72% response rate. The authors were able to separate and identify significant factors which affect each gender’s propensity to choose active modes of transportation to and from school. Among females, 45% chose an AMT to school and 52% for return trips home, both of which are higher than males’ propensity to choose AMT. Among males, 39% chose an AMT to school and 46% on the way back. Female tolerance in active modes of transportation also proved to be greater than that of males such that with a growth in costly factors such as increases in travel time, economic considerations, such as household car ownership, and tougher geographical topography, females substituted away from AMT less than males.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADD50 (1) Health and Transportation

01362476

12-0354

English

24p

2012

Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting

Digital/other

Figures; References; Tables

Gender; Mode choice; Nonmotorized transportation; Physical fitness; Questionnaires; Random sampling; School trips; Socioeconomic factors

Physical activity

Tehran (Iran)

Planning and Forecasting; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2012 Paper #12-0354

TRIS, TRB

Feb 8 2012 4:54PM