Research from Penn State; You Can Increase the Number of People Riding to work by…Riding to Work!

From Penn State News Article:

People who walk or bike to work are likely to influence their co-workers and partners to do the same, according to health researchers.

“Social influences are important, specifically interpersonal influences, such as spouses and co-workers,” said Melissa Bopp, assistant professor of kinesiology, Penn State. She emphasized that community and employers also significantly influence whether people choose to actively commute.

Active commuting (AC) — physical exercise, such as bicycling or walking, as a way to travel to and from work — is one way to help adults integrate the recommended activity into their daily routine.

Bopp noted she was surprised to discover how many variables were significantly related to active commuting. People who were comfortable with their bicycling skills were more likely to actively commute, as were those who believed they had a shorter biking or walking time to work. Believing that an employer supports active commuting and working for an employer who supports AC, living in a community that supports AC and believing that the community is supportive of pedestrians and bicyclists were all positively significantly related to active commuting.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the researchers found that lack of on-street bike lanes, off-street bike and walking paths, and sidewalks all negatively influenced active commuting. Difficult terrain, bad weather and the speed and volume of traffic along the commuting route were also significantly related to people deciding to not actively commute.

See the entire article on Pen State News’ website.

Car Free Fridays – putting an end to rush hour traffic, one single-occupant car trip at a time. Car Free Fridays empowers people to step out of their cars on a Friday to try an active transportation option.  With active commuting, Fridays are fun days and before long, Car Free Fridays are an everyday option.  See a list of Car Free Fridays events and request a Car Free Fridays Action kit at www.CarFreeFridays.org