Despite knowing that regular physical activity is good for health, levels of physical activity in Australia and overseas have declined. Contemporary theoretical frameworks provide a more comprehensive approach to understanding human behaviour by integrating biological and psychological factors with wider social, cultural and environmental influences. This approach suggests a need to identify legislative, policy, planning and design infrastructure factors that ; can contribute to supportive social, natural and constructed environments to increase physical activity, especially incidentally for transport. This study investigated perceptions of active and alternative forms of transport to the motor vehicle as one way of increasing incidental physical activity. The research was conducted in a regional city in the south-west of Western Australia, where the local government expressed interest in the findings to inform strategic transport planning. Modal transport choices were influenced by seven key factors: time, distance, purpose of trip, safety /security, social perceptions of transport and features within the natural and built environment. Travel by public transport was mostly influenced by individual factors: control, convenience and choice. Numerous individual, social and environmental barriers inhibit active modes of travel, especially by public transport. Many barriers are best addressed through an approach that seeks to create supportive environments for active transport through healthy public policy, supportive infrastructure and committed inter-sectoral partnerships, such as with health, transport, planning, environment and local government. (A)
Abstract