title: Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA): protocol for a multi-centre, longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases, yet many are not sufficiently active. The Physical Activity through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA) study aims to better understand active mobility (walking and cycling for transport solely or in combination with public transport) as an innovative approach to integrate physical activity into individuals' everyday lives. The PASTA study will collect data of multiple cities in a longitudinal cohort design to study correlates of active mobility, its effect on overall physical activity, crash risk and exposure to traffic-related air pollution.
  
  
  METHODS
  A set of online questionnaires incorporating gold standard approaches from the physical activity and transport fields have been developed, piloted and are now being deployed in a longitudinal study in seven European cities (Antwerp, Barcelona, London, Oerebro, Rome, Vienna, Zurich). In total, 14000 adults are being recruited (2000 in each city). A first questionnaire collects baseline information; follow-up questionnaires sent every 13 days collect prospective data on travel behaviour, levels of physical activity and traffic safety incidents. Self-reported data will be validated with objective data in subsamples using conventional and novel methods. Accelerometers, GPS and tracking apps record routes and activity. Air pollution and physical activity are measured to study their combined effects on health biomarkers. Exposure-adjusted crash risks will be calculated for active modes, and crash location audits are performed to study the role of the built environment. Ethics committees in all seven cities have given independent approval for the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PASTA study collects a wealth of subjective and objective data on active mobility and physical activity. This will allow the investigation of numerous correlates of active mobility and physical activity using a data set that advances previous efforts in its richness, geographical coverage and comprehensiveness. Results will inform new health impact assessment models and support efforts to promote and facilitate active mobility in cities.
authors.affiliation: Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium. evi.dons@vito.be.|Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium. evi.dons@vito.be.
authors.forename: Evi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dons
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity and Health Unit, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Seilergraben 49, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland. thomas.goetschi@uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Götschi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. mnieuwenhuijsen@creal.cat.|Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. mnieuwenhuijsen@creal.cat.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain. mnieuwenhuijsen@creal.cat.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nieuwenhuijsen
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ, London, UK. anazelle@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Nazelle
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ, London, UK. e.anaya14@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anaya
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. iavila@creal.cat.|Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. iavila@creal.cat.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain. iavila@creal.cat.
authors.forename: Ione
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Avila-Palencia
authors.affiliation: University of Oxford (UOXF) - Transport Studies Unit, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK. christian.brand@ouce.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. tcolehunter@creal.cat.|Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. tcolehunter@creal.cat.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain. tcolehunter@creal.cat.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cole-Hunter
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Institute for Transport Studies, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria. mailin.gaupp-berghausen@boku.ac.at.
authors.forename: Mailin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gaupp-Berghausen
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity and Health Unit, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Seilergraben 49, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland. sonja.kahlmeier@ifspm.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kahlmeier
authors.affiliation: Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium. michelle.laeremans@vito.be.|Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University, Wetenschapspark 5/6, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium. michelle.laeremans@vito.be.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laeremans
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. nmueller@creal.cat.|Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. nmueller@creal.cat.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain. nmueller@creal.cat.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington Campus, SW7 2AZ, London, UK. jporjuelam@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Juan Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Orjuela
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Institute for Transport Studies, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria. elisabeth.raser@boku.ac.at.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raser
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. drojas@creal.cat.|Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain. drojas@creal.cat.|CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain. drojas@creal.cat.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rojas-Rueda
authors.affiliation: Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium. arnout.standaert@vito.be.
authors.forename: Arnout
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Standaert
authors.affiliation: Trivector Traffic AB, Stockholm, Sweden. erik.stigell@trivector.se.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stigell
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Institute for Transport Studies, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria. tina.uhlmann@boku.ac.at.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uhlmann
authors.affiliation: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Institute for Transport Studies, Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190, Vienna, Austria. regine.gerike@tu-dresden.de.|Dresden University of Technology, Chair of Integrated Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering, 01062, Dresden, Germany. regine.gerike@tu-dresden.de.
authors.forename: Regine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerike
authors.affiliation: Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium. luc.intpanis@vito.be.|Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University, Wetenschapspark 5/6, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium. luc.intpanis@vito.be.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Int Panis
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D001642:Bicycling; D015415:Biomarkers; D015444:Exercise; D062489:Health Impact Assessment; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods*; D014505:Urban Population; D016138:Walking
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers