Behavioural correlates of active transport among Canadian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Canadian national active transportation Survey, 2021

Introduction: This study examined the impact of COVID-19-related restrictions on the active transportation (AT) of Canadian adults and associated motivational determinants of such behaviour. Design and methods: A survey was conducted with 2,868 Canadian adults recruited as part of the Canadian National Active Transportation Survey, 2021 in November and December of 2021. Along with demographic information, questions assessed current physical activity (PA), changes in transportation modalities (i.e., AT, private vehicle, public transport, ride hailing) related to the pandemic, and beliefs about AT according to the capability, opportunity, motivation, behaviour (COM-B) model. A series of multinomial regressions were constructed to examine associations between shifts in AT and the COM-B components. Results: A substantial proportion of Canadian adults reported engaging in less AT for work (32.4%), school (30.8%), and community activities (29.9%) than prior to the onset of the COVID19 pandemic. This was slightly less than reductions reported for use of private vehicles (31.8% to 36.3%), ride hailing services (35.5% to 37.6%), and public transportation (38.4% to 38.6%). Similarly, 36.4% reported less engagement in overall PA. The components of the COM-B model were associated with shifts in AT for work and community activities. In particular, physical opportunity (odds ratios ranging from 1.14 to 1.20), reflective motivation (odds ratios ranging from 1.11 to 1.25), and physical capability (odds ratios ranging from 1.11 to 1.25) were the only predictors of behaviour. Conclusions: If Canadian adults were motivated, felt physically capable, and believed their environment offered opportunities for AT they were less likely to reduce their AT during the COVID19 period. Thus, future investments in infrastructure to support AT should be accompanied by promotion campaigns to foster motivation and inform on safe opportunities for AT.