Jan 7

If you made a New Year's health resolution, start with Transit

Posted by Therese McMillan

If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to get healthier in 2016, here’s some advice: in addition to eating better and getting more exercise, try transit.

Sitting on a bus or a train may not strike you as being especially active, but, in fact, researchers have found that people who regularly use public transportation actually walk a lot more [external link] than those who don’t. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that adults take a minimum 10-minute brisk walk three times a day, five days a week, and choosing transit as part of your everyday activities can help you get closer to that ideal. Innovations like modern streetcars, urban circulators, and bikeshare services give more people the option to choose a healthier – and less expensive – way to travel short distances than hopping in a cab.

Taking transit can also be good for your mental health. Last year, researchers in England found that commuters reported feeling better after traveling by public transportation [external link] compared to driving. The researchers attributed that to the fact that transit gives you more opportunity to relax, read, and socialize, while the short walk to and from transit stops also contributes to well-being. Not surprisingly, they found that the more time people spend commuting in cars, the worse they feel; they also found that regular walks have the opposite effect.

By using and supporting public transportation, you’ll also be making a positive impact on the air you breathe. Reducing the number of people commuting alone in cars reduces pollution. In addition, many transit agencies are switching to buses that use Compressed Natural Gas, hybrid-electric, and all-electric engines. FTA has helped spur the adoption of new technology through its Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Program, which last year provided $55 million to put a new generation of advanced, non-polluting transit buses on the road in cities across the country. That includes cities like Louisville, Kentucky, where the new ZeroBus fleet is expected to reduce emissions by two-thirds and save more than $300,000 a year in maintenance and fuel costs.

DOT's Transportation & Health Tool shows Dayton, Ohio, at about the 80th percentile.

Wondering how transportation options in your community benefit your health? Check out DOT's online Transportation and Health Tool. The tool, developed by DOT with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), provides data on a set of transportation and public health indicators for each U.S. state and metropolitan area. These indicators describe how the transportation environment affects safety, active transportation, air quality, and connectivity to destinations. You can use the tool to quickly see how your state or metropolitan area compares with others in addressing key transportation and health issues.

Good health starts with good habits. Keep your healthy resolution in 2016 by choosing transit!