title: The impact of a free older persons' bus pass on active travel and regular walking in England.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the potential public health benefit of the National Bus Pass, introduced in 2006, which permits free local bus travel for older adults (≥ 60 years) in England.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed regression analyses with annual data from the 2005-2008 National Travel Survey. Models assessed associations between being a bus pass holder and active travel (walking, cycling, and use of public transport), use of buses, and walking 3 or more times per week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Having a free pass was significantly associated with greater active travel among both disadvantaged (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.35, 4.86; P < .001) and advantaged groups (AOR = 4.72; 95% CI = 3.99, 5.59; P < .001); greater bus use in both disadvantaged and advantaged groups (AOR = 7.03; 95% CI = 5.53, 8.94; P < .001 and AOR = 7.11; 95% CI = 5.65, 8.94; P < .001, respectively); and greater likelihood of walking more frequently in the whole cohort (AOR = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.07, 1.12; P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public subsidies enabling free bus travel for older persons may confer significant population health benefits through increased incidental physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, Reynolds Building, St Dunstan’s Rd, London W6 8RP, UK. s.coronini-cronberg@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coronini-Cronberg
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Millett
authors.forename: Anthony A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Laverty
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001642:Bicycling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*