Barriers to Walking: An Investigation of Adults in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada)

Andrew F. Clark and Darren M. Scott
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Andrew F. Clark: Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada
Darren M. Scott: Transportation Research Lab (TransLAB), School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: This study investigates perceived barriers to walking using data collected from 179 randomly-selected adults between the ages of 18 and 92 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. A survey (Hamilton Active Living Study) asked questions about socio-demographics, walking, and barriers to walking. A series of binary logit models are estimated for twenty potential barriers to walking. The results demonstrate that different barriers are associated with different sub-groups of the population. Females, senior citizens, and those with a higher body mass index identify the most barriers to walking, while young adults, parents, driver’s license owners, and bus pass owners identify the fewest barriers. Understanding who is affected by perceived barriers can help policy makers and health promotion agencies target sub-groups of the population in an effort to increase walking.

Keywords: binary logit model; barriers; active transportation; walking; time availability; walkability; built environment; social environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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