Correlates of Commuter Cycling in Three Norwegian Counties

Solveig Nordengen, Denise Christina Ruther, Amund Riiser, Lars Bo Andersen and Ane Solbraa
Additional contact information
Solveig Nordengen: Faculty of Education, Arts and Sports, Department of Sport, Food and Natural Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Post box 133, 6851 Sogndal, Norway
Denise Christina Ruther: Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Post box 133, 6851 Sogndal, Norway
Amund Riiser: Faculty of Education, Arts and Sports, Department of Sport, Food and Natural Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Post box 133, 6851 Sogndal, Norway
Lars Bo Andersen: Faculty of Education, Arts and Sports, Department of Sport, Food and Natural Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Post box 133, 6851 Sogndal, Norway
Ane Solbraa: Faculty of Education, Arts and Sports, Department of Sport, Food and Natural Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Post box 133, 6851 Sogndal, Norway

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-18

Abstract: Globally, there is an increasing challenge of physical inactivity and associated diseases. Commuter cycling is an everyday physical activity with great potential to increase the health status in a population. We aimed to evaluate the association of self-reported factors and objectively measured environmental factors in residence and along commuter routes and assessed the probability of being a commuter cyclist in Norway. Our study included respondents from a web-based survey in three Norwegian counties and we used a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate the natural and built environment. Of the 1196 respondents, 488 were classified as commuter cyclists. Self-reported factors as having access to an e-bike (OR 5.99 [CI: 3.71–9.69]), being physically active (OR 2.56 [CI: 1.42–4.60]) and good self-rated health (OR 1.92 [CI: 1.20–3.07]) increased the probability of being a cyclist, while being overweight or obese (OR 0.71 [CI: 0.54–0.94]) reduced the probability. Environmental factors, such as high population density (OR 1.49 [CI: 1.05–2.12]) increased the probability, while higher slope (trend p = 0.020), total elevation along commuter route (trend p = 0.001), and >5 km between home and work (OR 0.17 [CI: 0.13–0.23]) decreased the probability of being a cyclist. In the present study, both self-reported and environmental factors were associated with being a cyclist. With the exception of being in good health, the characteristics of cyclists in Norway, a country with a low share of cyclists, seem to be similar to countries with a higher share of cyclists. With better knowledge about characteristics of cyclists, we may design better interventions and campaigns to increase the share of commuter cyclists.

Keywords: bicycle; public employees; active travel; active commuting; adults; GIS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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