Can the use of Bus Rapid Transit lead to a healthier lifestyle in urban South Africa? The SUN Study

- Based on a natural experiment of the MyCiTi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service in Cape Town.
- Active travel (AT) and physical activity (PA) between BRT-users and non-users evaluated.
- BRT-users accumulated significantly more time in AT and total PA per day and week.
- 36% of BRT-users achieved the physical activity guidelines by active transport alone.

BackgroundThere is a growing body of evidence that transport-related physical activity (PA) can positively contribute to population levels of PA, however limited data are available from Africa. Within South Africa, strategies and policies to support greater non-motorised and public transport use have been identified as a national policy priority, leading in part to the development of the MyCiTi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Cape Town. The aims of this study were to evaluate the difference in active travel choices between users and non-users of the MyCiTi services, and to determine the contribution of active travel towards total PA.MethodsIntercept interviews using a short self-reported questionnaire were conducted with 1204 BRT passengers. A similar self-reported questionnaire was distributed to non-BRT users (n=558) employed at workplaces along the BRT feeder routes. In the final analysis, 1321 valid surveys were included.ResultsCost savings and safety from crime were the main reasons reported for using MyCiTi services. Non-BRT users cited convenience of car travel and short travelling distances as the main reasons for not using these services. Commuting to work (75%) was the main trip purpose amongst BRT-users. Nearly all (92.6%) BRT-users walked as part of their travel journey. BRT-users accumulated significantly more active travel time (ß=79.0, 95% CI=59.6, 98.3) and total PA time (ß=113.7, 95% CI=34.4, 193.1) per week than non-users, after adjusting for confounding variables. In addition, 36% of BRT-users achieved the recommended guidelines of 150 min of moderate-vigorous intensity PA per week with active travel alone and were more likely to achieve the guidelines than non-users (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.9, 3.0).ConclusionThis study highlights the potential of BRT for increasing population-levels of PA in South Africa, as part of an inter-sectoral strategy to promote health and prevent non-communicable diseases.