TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Free bus travel and physical activity, gait speed, and adiposity in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
JO  - American journal of public health
A1  - Webb, Elizabeth
A1  - Laverty, Anthony
A1  - Mindell, Jenny
A1  - Millett, Chris
SP  - 136
EP  - 142
VL  - 106
IS  - 1
N2  - OBJECTIVES: We investigated associations between having a bus pass, enabling free local bus travel across the United Kingdom for state pension-aged people, and physical activity, gait speed, and adiposity. <br><br>METHODS: We used data on 4650 bus pass-eligible people (aged ≥ 62 years) at wave 6 (2012-2013) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing in regression analyses. <br><br>RESULTS: Bus pass holders were more likely to be female (odds ratio [OR] = 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI] =  1.38, 2.02; P < .001), retired (OR = 2.65; 95% CI = 2.10, 3.35; P < .001), without access to a car (OR = 2.78; 95% CI = 1.83, 4.21; P < .001), to use public transportation (OR = 10.26; 95% CI = 8.33, 12.64; P < .001), and to be physically active (OR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.12, 1.84; P = .004). Female pass holders had faster gait speed (b = 0.06 meters per second; 95% CI = 0.02, 0.09; P = .001), a body mass index 1 kilogram per meter squared lower (b = -1.20; 95% CI = -1.93, -0.46; P = .001), and waist circumference 3 centimeters smaller (b = -3.32; 95% CI = -5.02, -1.62; P < .001) than women without a pass. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Free bus travel for older people helps make transportation universally accessible, including for those at risk for social isolation. Those with a bus pass are more physically active. Among women in particular, the bus pass is associated with healthier aging. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print November 12, 2015: e1-e7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2015.302907).<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0090-0036
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302907
ID  - ref1
ER  -