Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

NG90/1

Question

Public transport provision and ticketing:- How effective and cost effective are changes to public transport provision and ticketing in creating and sustaining an increase in physical activity at a population level?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Why this is important:- Increased use of public transport increases physical activity at a population level, and use can be increased by interventions to improve provision and facilities. But there is little information on how effective changes to public transport provision or ticketing policies (such as age of eligibility for passes and fare integration) are at sustaining an increase, and whether this is cost effective.
Longitudinal research of public transport and ticketing interventions is needed, using objective measures of physical activity with a follow-up period of at least a year and preferably with a matched control group.
Research is also needed on the effects on physical activity of:
- location, such as rural or urban, and how easy it is for people to walk around the local area
- individual characteristics, such as mobility, health, age, ethnicity
- service characteristics, such as density and coverage, frequency, reliability, journey time
- accessibility of public transport, in terms of physical access, information, and affordability
- links with other forms of transport (cycling, walking, other modes of public transport)
- overall quality of service and infrastructure.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Physical activity and the environment

Number

NG90

Date issued

March 2018

Other details