Free Bus Travel and Physical Activity, Gait Speed, and Adiposity in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Document summary

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.

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.

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. 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.