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Review
. 2017 Sep;4(3):286-295.
doi: 10.1007/s40572-017-0149-9.

Towards a Comprehensive Conceptual Framework of Active Travel Behavior: a Review and Synthesis of Published Frameworks

Thomas Götschi  1 , Audrey de Nazelle  2 , Christian Brand  3 , Regine Gerike  4 ; PASTA Consortium
Collaborators, Affiliations
Review

Towards a Comprehensive Conceptual Framework of Active Travel Behavior: a Review and Synthesis of Published Frameworks

Thomas Götschi et al. Curr Environ Health Rep. 2017 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose of review: This paper reviews the use of conceptual frameworks in research on active travel, such as walking and cycling. Generic framework features and a wide range of contents are identified and synthesized into a comprehensive framework of active travel behavior, as part of the Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches project (PASTA). PASTA is a European multinational, interdisciplinary research project on active travel and health.

Recent findings: Along with an exponential growth in active travel research, a growing number of conceptual frameworks has been published since the early 2000s. Earlier frameworks are simpler and emphasize the distinction of environmental vs. individual factors, while more recently several studies have integrated travel behavior theories more thoroughly. Based on the reviewed frameworks and various behavioral theories, we propose the comprehensive PASTA conceptual framework of active travel behavior. We discuss how it can guide future research, such as data collection, data analysis, and modeling of active travel behavior, and present some examples from the PASTA project.

Keywords: Behavior theories; Cycling; Determinants; Logic model; Pathway diagram; Walking.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest

Thomas Götschi, Audrey de Nazelle, Christian Brand, and Regine Gerike declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Generic choice process for active travel-related behavioral decisions. The column on the left illustrates the process to identify considered choices. From these, one choice is selected through the process in the column on the right
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
PASTA conceptual framework of active travel behavior. A more detailed version of the framework including a detailed reader’s guide is available in Appendix 3. Additional variations of the framework are available in the supplemental materials in https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thomas_Goetschi/publications
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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