Physical transport activity | Quebec National Public Health Institute

Active transport is to use your own energy to move, for example by walking or using a bicycle. It is an effective way to insert physical activity into your daily life. Travel to stops or public transport stations can also be carried out by active transport and increase the time of physical activity in a day. Move while moving to go to work or school generates positive health effects, whether by walking, running or cycling.

Portrait of practice

The Inspq follows the evolution of the practice of physical transport activities from surveys. At the Quebec population, this type of physical activity has remained stable in recent years. However, efforts deserve to be continued to increase the practice of physical transport activities in the population and thus increase its health benefits.

Among young people aged 12 to 17

The Inspq analyzed data from the Quebec health survey of youth in high school (EQSJS) in 2022-2023. Here is his observation:

Most recent portrait

• About a third (33 %) of young people use active transport 5 days or more per week, while more than half (57 %) do not use it weekly.

Evolution from 2010 to 2023

• Regular active transport (5 days or more) has been stable since 2010 (~ 32-34 %).
• The proportion of young people not using active weekly transport at all is up, going from 54 % to 57 %.

In adults aged 18 to 64

The ISPQ analyzed data from the Quebec Population Health Survey in 2020-2021. Here is his observation:

Most recent portrait

• In adults, in 2020-2021, active transport is infrequent in adults: more than two thirds (69 %) do not practice it at all or rarely.
• Less than one in seven adults (13 %) uses active transport regularly (5 days or more), which suggests a significant potential for improvement in terms of active mobility.

Evolution from 2014-2015 to 2020-2021

• Marked drop in regular practice: the proportion of adults who use active transport 5 days or more per week fell from 17 % to 13 %).
• Consequently, the proportion of adults having no weekly practice of active transportation increased, from 63 % to 69 % in 2020-2021.

Actions on the built environment

It is recognized that thebuilt environment plays a crucial role in the practice of active transport. Indeed, districts connected with pedestrian infrastructure and safe cycling are associated with an increase in active transport.