Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Objective: To understand the travel behaviours of adult Saskatoon residents based on their primary form of transportation to and from work or school. Methods: A random sample of adult Saskatoon residents were surveyed by telephone (n=600) as part of developing an Active Transportation Plan for Saskatoon. The questionnaire administered included 43 items exploring current travel behaviours in both summer and winter months, attitudes and barriers towards specific forms of transportation and demographic information. Users and non-users of active (cycling, walking) and inactive (driving) forms of utility transport and the perceived barriers to walking and cycling more frequently were compared using Chi-square and logistic regression analysis. Results: Of those surveyed 4% (n=22) walked, 8% (n=47) cycled, and 45% (n=271) utilized a vehicle as their primary transportation mode between home and work or school. Those who walked or cycled were significantly less likely to be senior citizens or live in the suburban areas of the city, but were more likely to report safety and weather as a barrier to biking more frequently. Those who drove or carpooled were significantly less likely to be senior citizens, but were more likely to live in neighbourhoods with highest street connectivity and have an annual household income of >$40,000. Conclusions: Area of residency and income are significant predictors of active and vehicle transport methods between work or school and home. Specifically, this research is part of current effort to develop a comprehensive Active Transportation Plan for the City of Saskatoon. Generally, understanding the determinants of participating in active forms of transport can inform both researchers and policy makers, helping develop healthier cities within the prairies and contribute to reducing non-communicable diseases including obesity