Support for Active Transport Policy Initiatives Among Canadian Adults: The Canadian National Active Transportation Survey

Abstract

Objectives: To examine public support for active transportation (AT) policies and to identify demographic and behavioural predictors of support for each policy approach.Methods: Canadian adults aged 18 years and older (N = 2,868) provided information on demographic factors (e.g., age, income), place of residence (e.g., region, size of community), and the frequency with which they walked/wheeled or cycled to work or school in a typical week. In addition, they rated their support for AT-related policies (e.g., spending government money on more dedicated bicycle paths, offering tax credits for public transit passes, charging higher rates for parking to subsidize costs for AT infrastructure, changing the design of neighbourhoods and communities to encourage informal physical activity). Multinomial regressions examined demographics and AT behaviour as predictors of support for each policy approach, yielding a total of eight models.Results: Although most policy actions to promote AT were supported by Canadians, the level of support varied by the type of policy actions and by demographics and AT behaviour. A majority of Canadians supported policy approaches targeting environmental planning and fiscal measures that incentivized AT. A minority of Canadians supported policies aimed at regulation or coercive fiscal measures. The level of support for AT policies was higher among women, those with more education, younger respondents, those residing in central and eastern Canada, and individuals who engaged in AT.Conclusion: Canadians are supportive of policy actions to facilitate AT. This public support might be important for their future development and implementation.