Employed

Per Capita Income

Above Poverty

Economic

Preschool Enrollment

Bachelor's Education

High School Enrollment

Education

Voting

Census Response

Social

Automobile Access

Active Commuting

Transportation

Insured Adults

Healthcare Access

Retail Density

Park Access

Tree Canopy

Neighborhood

Severely Cost Burdened Low-Income Renters

Severely Cost Burdened Low-Income Homeowners

Housing Habitability

Uncrowded Housing

Homeownership

Housing

Ozone

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

Diesel Particulate Matter

Safe Drinking Water

Clean Environment

Extreme Heat

Impervious Surfaces

Outdoor Workers

Public Transit Access

Sea Level Rise

Two Parent Households

Alcohol Availability

Supermarket Access

Decision Support

Everybody should have safe, accessible and convenient transportation options to get to work and other destinations. Active commuting by foot, bike and transit creates opportunities for physical activity, provides transportation options for those without a car, encourages social cohesion, and reduces contributions to climate change and air pollution. Having adequate and accessible transportation options has been linked to improved physical and mental health, physical activity, employment outcomes, medical care, and resiliency during disasters. For households and individuals without access to a car, including many low-income individuals and people of color, active transportation options and public transportation can be critical links to jobs and other health supportive destinations that provide essential goods and services. These transportation options can also be cheaper alternatives to driving and help people save on costs of owning and operating a car.

Walking, bicycling and using public transportation allows people to get regular exercise. The U.S. Surgeon General recommends at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day, and most people can reach that goal simply by walking or biking to work or other destinations, while also building physical activity into their daily lives. This can add up: nearly a third of public transportation users are physically active for 30 minutes or more each day just from walking to and from their pickup location.

Studies have shown that people who use public transportation for any reason were less likely to be sedentary or obese, taking 30% more steps and walking 8.3 more minutes per day than people who mostly drove everywhere.

 Walking to and from public transportation can also save people money on healthcare costs. One study estimated lifetime savings of $5,550 per person in 2007 dollars.

However, many California cities have developed infrastructure that favors individual car use and offers limited alternatives. These limitations can make it difficult for those who walk, bike and take public transportation to get around, especially in rural areas where destinations are further apart. Lack of adequate transportation options can negatively impact one’s health, particularly for those who without access to a car. Where transit service is scarce, when routes are cut back, and when sidewalks and bicycle facilities are lacking, people have less access to goods and services, employment, and other opportunities. Low-income individuals and people of color, who use active and public transportation options the most, are greatly impacted by lack of access.

 During extreme heat events and other climate-related events, having available transportation options can greatly impact the health outcomes of these communities. In some cases, transportation is required for survival and sufficient access to the transit system during these events is essential.

This indicator measures the percentage of people aged 16 and older who commute to work by walking, bicycling or taking public transportation. Places with a high percentage of people taking these modes to work tend to be more walkable and more accessible to destinations where jobs, schools, groceries and other necessities are available.

Besser, L. & Dannenberg, A. (2005).Walking to Public Transit: Steps to Help Meet Physical Activity Recommendations. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 29(4): 273–280. Cited in Active Living Research, 2009. Making the Link From Transportation to Physical Activity and Obesity.

Lopez–Zetina, J., Lee, H. & Friis, R. (2006).The Link between Obesity and the Built Environment. Evidence from an Ecological Analysis of Obesity and Vehicle Miles of Travel in California. Health & Place, 12(4): 656–664; Edwards, R. (2008). Public Transit, Obesity, and Medical Costs: Assessing the Magnitudes. Preventive Medicine, 46(1): 14–21; Frank, L., Andresen, M. & Schmid, T. (2004). Obesity Relationships with Community Design, Physical Activity, and Time Spent in Cars. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 27(2): 87–96; All cited in Active Living Research, 2009. Making the Link From Transportation to Physical Activity and Obesity.

Alameda County Public Health Department. Getting on Board for Health: A Health Impact Assessment of Bus Funding and Access. 2013. Available at: http://www.acphd.org/media/308854/transithia.pdf

Edwards, R. (2008).Public Transit, Obesity, and Medical Costs: Assessing the Magnitudes. Preventive Medicine, 46(1): 14–21. Cited in Active Living Research, 2009. Making the Link From Transportation to Physical Activity and Obesity. Retrieved from

“Resilience” is defined as “the capacity of a community, business, or natural environment to prevent, withstand, respond to, and recover from a disruption.” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Resilience Toolkit, available at https://toolkit.climate.gov/content/glossary

Improving transportation options for active commuters requires a range of strategies, including planning, investment and community engagement. There are differences in the strategies needed in urban and rural areas, but overall the goal is to provide access to opportunities that improve health outcomes and support healthy community conditions (i.e. access to quality jobs, good schools, grocery stores and farmers’ markets, clinical care, etc). Transportation strategies can also ensure resilience

 in climate-related events by providing access to cooling centers, emergency support services, and organized evacuations.

 by investing in new infrastructure (sidewalks, bicycle facilities and amenities that make it safer and more convenient to walk and bike), supporting education and encouragement programs in schools and the community, and passing policies like Vision Zero and Complete Streets that set long-term goals for increasing walking and bicycling while also improving safety. They should also work with transit agencies to 

, both by expanding frequency and routes available, while also ensuring the existing system is maintained. Local governments should also explore different 

 to lower the cost and incentivize greater use of these services. Since most people without a car rely on public transportation, communities should also improve first and last mile connections for those walking and bicycling to route stops. 

 is needed, and local governments should consider partnering with ride-sharing or car-sharing companies, encouraging carpooling, and identifying creative and innovative mobility options to get more people where they need to go.

Local governments should also think about 

 and how building and preserving affordable housing near transit and other mobility networks can facilitate greater rates of walking, bicycling and transit use, while also providing greater access to safety, health supportive destinations, and opportunity. They should also design transportation facilities in ways that reduce the urban heat-island effect and keep people cool while waiting. In planning future investments, local governments should foster 

, which can empower local residents to inform transportation decisions and improve accessibility. Finally, local governments should 

 during emergencies and climate related events for people who walk, bike and take public transportation, and otherwise do not have readily access to a car.

Improving transportation options for active commuters can come with a high immediate price tag, especially related to infrastructure investments. There are a number of funding sources and technical assistance programs that can support local government efforts to build more resilient infrastructure and ensure everyone has adequate transportation options. The 

 is the primary state funding source for walking and bicycling infrastructure investments, and it includes a 10% set-aside for projects in rural and small urban areas. Many local governments and transit agencies have their own sources of walking and bicycling funding as well. For more information, see: The California Transit Association’s 

, and the California Department of Transportation’s 

Low Carbon Transit Operations Program and Transit

. Like with active transportation, many local governments and transit agencies have their own funding programs, including local sales taxes dedicated to transit service. For more information on Smart Growth, see: The California Strategic Growth Council’s 

Affordable Housing Sustainable Communities

 for examples of programs that fund housing and land use investments, and the State’s 

 for recommendations on how to plan for Smart Growth.

Lower the cost and incentivize greater use of public transportation and other mobility services.

Emerging

Payment Options

Equity

Sufficient Evidence

Discount Transit Pass Programs

Plan for affordable housing, jobs, retail and other providers of essential goods and services in walkable communities and near transit, in order to provide greater accessibility for active commuters and those without a car.

Healthy Neighborhoods

Pollution

Community Power and Connection

Climate

Promising

Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing

Strong Evidence

Parking Requirements

Best Practice

General Plans

Improve sidewalks, bicycle facilities, and first and last mile connections to public transportation to ensure that riders can travel safely in their communities. 

Active Transportation Plans

Physical Activity

Active Transportation Infrastructure

Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education and Encouragement Programs

Safe Routes to School Programs

Traffic Calming

Trails, Linear Parks, and Greenways

Data can be collected, shared, analyzed and used to identify community needs and prioritize strategies to advance equity.

Health

Collect, Analyze, and Use Disaggregated Data

Track Impact Data

Ensure that people without access to a car are able to get to safety during extreme weather events and other climate events.

Emergency Response Plans

Transportation to Emergency Facilities

Support resident power, social connections, and climate awareness, so that active commuters and those without a car are empowered and inform transportation investment decisions.

Environmental Justice Element (SB 1000)

Transit Rider Surveys

Community Organizing

Pedestrian & Bicycle Counts and Surveys

Effective Community Engagement

Ensure that private transportation providers, including ride-sharing, car-sharing and bike-sharing, are accessible and affordable for those without access to cars.

Integrate Special Considerations for Rural Areas 

Shared Transportation Systems

Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

Demand-Responsive Transit Services

Ensure public transportation routes are accessible and frequent enough to get people to and from work and other essential destinations. 

Policy Guide

Active Commuting

References