Researchers say community support key for active commuting

K-State researchers hope that despite the many barriers to active commuting, results of a study will help influence public policy and future construction in Manhattan, and residents will be encouraged to walk and bike around the city.

The study, conducted by the K-State Physical Activity and Public Health Lab, aimed to understand attitudes about active commuting as well as the major obstacles that keep people from either walking or biking to their destinations.

The research was initiated by Pam Wittman, senior in kinesiology, and began in spring 2008 when Wittman and Melissa Bopp, assistant professor of kinesiology, administered two online surveys to the K-State campus and the Manhattan community.

They were later assisted in their research by Andy Kaczynski, assistant professor of kinesiology.

About 800 K-State students, faculty members and staff and 428 Manhattan residents answered the surveys. Participants were asked about their physical activity levels, driving, health, work habits and reasons for or against active commuting.

The researchers found that about 5 percent of students routinely biked while 15 percent routinely walked to campus. However, Wittman said the group's main finding was that distance to campus is the major factor for most people in deciding whether to actively commute or not.

According to the study, individuals living within a 20-minute walk or bike ride to campus were twice as likely to walk and 17 times more likely to bike to campus than individuals living farther away.

Survey results also indicated that Manhattan residents walk or bike to and from work about one time a week, while they drive to and from work about nine times a week.

Time constraints, bad weather, the need to travel to other places in addition to work or campus and safety concerns about traffic are key barriers that keep people from practicing active commuting, according to the surveys.

Both Wittman and Kaczynski stressed the importance of incorporating physical activity into people's daily lives. Kaczynski said at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day, which can be accomplished in 10-minute spurts, is ideal.

"Active commuting is a way to build physical activity into your daily routine," he said. "You can get 10 minutes in on a walk across campus, for instance."

Wittman also cited the health benefits of active commuting, which include lowering the risk of cardiovascular heart disease.

Wittman said she bikes to school every day and loves the freedom it provides her.

"I'm so impatient," she said. "I don't like waiting in cars."

Wittman also said riding her bike gives her a sense of being a close-knit member of the community — a positive social benefit for active commuting.

Another student who regularly commutes using her bicycle is Laura Stockmoe, senior in family studies and human services and pre-medicine.

Stockmoe said she does not have a car, so she uses her bicycle to go to school and run errands.

"I bike about 25 miles per day," Stockmoe said. "I bike everywhere, as long as it's above 40 degrees."

To help encourage active commuting, Kaczynski, who offers a course every fall on the built environment and physical activity, said support must come from the surrounding community.

"You don't see enough [sidewalks] in Manhattan," he said, "and you have to traverse giant streets to get to Wal-Mart or Target."

Kaczynski also said he thinks the crosswalks on campus are great, but on busy street corners, more countdown timers for pedestrians would be helpful. He also suggested adding bike lanes on bigger streets like Anderson and Bluemont avenues by decreasing the width of the roads to make room for bikes. During the day, he said it is also a possibility to close roads that run through campus to cars.

"A lot of cities like Manhattan give priority to driving," he said. "But when opportunities present themselves, we need to take into account other kinds of transportation."

Stockmoe said she also thinks there could be more bicycle trails in Manhattan.

"There are towns that have more bike trails than actual streets, but that is definitely not the case here," she said.

Kaczynski said he hopes the survey results encourage Manhattan companies to promote active commuting by providing resources like showers for employees who choose to walk or bike.

Wittman suggested college students look for houses close to their daily destinations.

For Wittman, it is important that active commuting becomes a viable transportation choice, she said.

Kaczynski and Wittman both said they would like their research to influence future public policy and construction so there is better connectivity around the city.

K-State UFM is offering the course "Bicycling for Transportation, Fitness and Fun" for those interested in learning more about active commuting. The first session begins April 29.

For more information, go to https://ufmprograms.org.