Inequalities in Active Travel in England: An analysis based on the first three years of the Active Lives Survey 2016/2018

This dissertation explores demographic, socioeconomic, and geographical inequalities in active travel in England, and analyses to what extent distance travelled, hilliness and temperature contribute to these disparities. Data for the period 2015–18 was extracted from the Active Lives Survey. Logistic regression models were fitted and Relative Risks (RRs) computed to examine potential inequalities by sex, age, ethnicity, area deprivation, education, and urban/rural classification. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the association between distance travelled, hilliness, and temperature and the inequalities found at the local authority level. The likelihood of walking travel was higher among people who were female, young, from deprived areas, with a higher level of education and from urban areas. Cycling travel tended to be disproportionately used by male, young, white, with a high level of education and urban populations. Distance travelled, hilliness, and temperature were found to have a significant impact on certain active travel inequalities. Distance was negatively associated with the RR for age 55+ (vs. age 16-64) for walking. Hilliness was negatively associated with the RR female (vs. male) and with the RR for low/med. education (vs. high) for cycling. Temperature was positively associated with the RR female (vs. male) for cycling, but negatively associated with the RR for most deprived area (vs. least), and with the RR for low/med. education (vs. high) for both, walking and cycling. In conclusion, remarkable socioeconomic inequalities in active travel were found, particularly in cycling. In addition, distance, hilliness, and temperature were found to affect to a certain extent some of these inequalities. Individual-oriented policies aimed at reducing the negative impact that these factors have on the travel behaviour of specific groups and areas, might help to reduce the existing inequalities, and consequently contribute to overcome health inequalities. Directions for future research are provided.