5.4 Canada bikes like the Dutch

Cycling as a form of transportation, is an effective way of increasing individuals’ daily physical activity levels and can lead to a decrease in the risk of disease and death.

In this example we will determine the impact on life expectancy if Canadians were to cycle like the cycling enthusiasts the Dutch!

In this example we determine:

A. How much Canadians cycle per day for transportation purposes on average?

B. How much Dutch cycle per day for transportation purposes on average?

C. What is the average difference in daily cycling transportation for Canadians and the Dutch?

D. Predict how Canadian life expectancy would change if Canadians biked like the Dutch.

For this example we will use the sample data set data.sample.csv, which can be downloaded at https://github.com/Big-Life-Lab/PBL-Planning-Tool-Case-Examples. This link also contains all of the R code for this case example. Although we have included the Rcode other statistics software (SAS, STATA, etc) can be used to complete this case example.

Note: Although the data.sample.csv is based on the 2013/2014 Canadian Community Health Survey Public Use Microdata File, data.sample.csv is a completely synthetic data set and can only be used for exemplary purposes.

5.4.1 Part A: How much do Canadians cycle per day for transportation purposes on average?

We will determine how much Canadians cycle per day by calculating the average daily energy expenditure from cycling in the current Canadian population.

We will use 3 variables in our sample data set which are based off of the 2013/2014 CCHS PUMF and measure cycling as a form of active transportation:

  • PAC_8: In the past 3 months did you cycle to and from work or school?
  • PAC_8A: How many times did you cycle to and from work or school, in the past 3 months?
  • PAC_8B: How much time did you spend on each occasion?

Assumption #1: we assume individuals 65 or older are retired and therefore not cycling to/from work/school. Therefore, we will only evaluate individuals that are < 65 years old.

In order to calculate the average Canadian daily energy expenditure from cycling for transportation, you will need to:

  • Find the average number of times, that an individual cycled to/from work/school in the past 3 months (mean PAC_8A)

  • Find the average number of hours spent cycling to/from work/school, in the past 3 month (mean of PAC_8B)

  • Calculate the average duration of cycling: \(\text{Duration} = [\text{(Frequency/3 months)}*\text{(Time/trip)}] / \text{(Days/3 months)}\)

  • Calculate the average daily energy expenditure (MET-hours) for cycling to/from work/school: \(\text{MET-hours} = \text{Duration}*\text{MET value for cycling}\)

Note: For Canadians to cycle like the Dutch, we need to use the Dutch MET cycling value of 5.8 and not the Canadian MET cycling value of 4.0. The Dutch MET value accounts for the speed of cycling of the Dutch.

  • Calculation the average daily expenditure from cycling for transportation for all individuals in the population not only those that cycled to/from work/school

On average a Canadian only gets 0.024 MET-hours/day from cycling to/from work/school.

5.4.2 Part B: How much do the Dutch cycle/day for transportation purposes on average?

Using data collected as part of the Dutch National Travel Survey (2010 – 2012), Fisherman, 2015 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121871 - Table S1) reported the average additional daily energy expenditure from cycling as a form of transportation for the Dutch: males: 1.3 MET-hours, and females: 1.4 MET-hours.

The average Dutch daily energy expenditure from cycling as a form of transportation for both sexes is then 1.35 MET-hours.

5.4.3 Part C: What is the average difference in daily cycling transporation for Canadians and the Dutch?

Canadians need to increase their average daily energy expenditure from cycling from 0.07 MET-hours to 1.35 MET-hours, in order to be like the Dutch.

Note: Since the physical activity intervention scenario on the Project Big Life Planning Tool is for daily leisure energy expenditure and not daily active transportation, we will use the ‘absolute’ scenario for this example. We will increase each individual’s daily leisure energy expenditure by 1.28 MET-hours (1.35 MET-hours - 0.07 MET-hours).

5.4.4 Part D: Predict how Canadian life expectancy would change if Canadians biked like the Dutch.

Use the Project Big Life Planning Tool for the following steps:

  1. Load your data file: data.sample.csv to the Project Big Life Planning Tool.

  2. Select initial calculation: Summary Measure – Life Expectancy (Summary)

  3. Add Filter: DDHGAGE – 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

  4. Click: Scenarios, and select Intervention

  5. Click Physical Activity then Select “Average daily leisure time energy expenditure in METs”

Assumption #2: Although the scenario for physical activity is for leisure energy expenditure, we assume 1) individuals that are active in their leisure time also use active transportation, and 2) cycling as a form of active transportation is minor part of their energy expenditure. Therefore we will adjust the average daily leisure time energy expenditure in METs.

  1. Select Absolute

  2. Type in the absolute change calculated in Part 3, into the text box.

  3. Name your calculation: Canada bikes like the Dutch

  4. Click Calculate

  5. Interpret results