How many walking and cycling trips made by elderly are beyond commonly used buffer sizes: Results from a GPS study

In choosing appropriate buffer sizes to study environmental influences on physical activity, studies are hampered by insufficient insight into the distance elderly travel actively. This study aims at getting insight into the number of trips walked and cycled within various buffer sizes using GPS mea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health & place 2014-05, Vol.27, p.127-133
Main Authors: Prins, R.G., Pierik, F., Etman, A., Sterkenburg, R.P., Kamphuis, C.B.M., van Lenthe, F.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Active transport
Activities of Daily Living
Age Factors
Aged
Bicycling - statistics & numerical data
Biological and medical sciences
Buffer
Demographic differences
Distance
Elderly people
Environment Design
Environment. Living conditions
Environmental aspects
Female
Females
Functional impairment
Geographic Information Systems
Geographical information systems
GIS
Grocery stores
Health technology assessment
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Miscellaneous
Netherlands - epidemiology
Physical activity
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Sex Factors
Transport
Travel
Walking - statistics & numerical data
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Summary:In choosing appropriate buffer sizes to study environmental influences on physical activity, studies are hampered by insufficient insight into the distance elderly travel actively. This study aims at getting insight into the number of trips walked and cycled within various buffer sizes using GPS measures. Data were obtained from the Elderly And their Neighborhood study (Spijkenisse, the Netherlands (2011–2012)). Trip length and mode of transport were derived from the GPS data (N=120; total number of trips=337). Distance decay functions were fitted to estimate the percentage of trips to grocery stores within commonly used buffer sizes. Fifty percent of the trips walked had a distance of at least 729m; for trips cycled this was 1665m. Elderly aged under 75 years and those with functional limitations walked and cycled shorter distances than those over 75 years and those without functional limitations. Males cycled shorter distances than females. Distance decay functions may aid the selection of appropriate buffer sizes, which may be tailored to individual characteristics. •Distances walked are mostly beyond 400 and 500m buffers.•Distances cycled were mostly beyond 400, 500, 1000, 1200 and 1600m buffers.•Adults ≥75 years and those with functional limitations walked and cycled shorter distances.•Males cycled shorter distances than females.•Studies may miss important environmental characteristics if very small buffers are used.
ISSN:1353-8292
1873-2054
DOI:10.1016/j.healthplace.2014.01.012