Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan are suggesting that public transportation may have health benefits, including increased physical activity and improved mental well-being. According to Dr. Daniel Fuller, lead researcher on the 10-year-old "INTERACT" study, using public transit can lead to more walking and social interaction, which can contribute to better overall health. The study is being re-funded with federal dollars and aims to gather data through surveys and apps. Preliminary findings suggest that people in Saskatoon have a higher sense of community and social connectedness compared to other cities participating in the study.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
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Story summary
Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan's Community Health Department, led by Associate Professor Dr. Daniel Fuller, claim that public transportation can not only get people from one place to another but also improve their health. The 10-year-old INTERACT study, which is being re-funded, suggests that using public transit increases physical activity and social participation. According to Fuller, when people use buses, they tend to walk more, contributing to their daily exercise needs. He hopes this research will influence how cities design and implement transit systems. However, some Saskatoon residents have expressed concerns about safety on public transportation, citing instances of rowdy behavior and unpleasant odors.
Written for “Public Transit Health Benefits” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score -0.45 for article 1408 (medium confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-25
With the Link Bus Rapid Transit project well underway in Saskatoon, the hope is that it will boost ridership numbers across the city.
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it → boost → city
And now researchers out of the University of Saskatchewan are suggesting public transit may do more than just get you from point A to point B; it could also improve your health.
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it → suggest → health
“They tend to walk to the transit stations and walk to the bus and walk back home, which does contribute to their physical activity needs.
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which → tend → needs
The other thing we know is that sort of people’s well-being and social participation change,” said project lead and U-Sask Associate Professor for the Community Health Department, Dr. Daniel Fuller.
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lead → know → Department
The idea behind it isn’t new, but the 10-year-old “INTERACT’ study is getting new federal funding.
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study → get → funding
Something Fuller hopes could change how cities plan and implement transit systems.
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cities → hop → systems
But some people in the city have differing opinions, especially given recent safety concerns from transit riders.
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people → have → riders
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“Some people… sometimes going crazy.
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people → get → news
People are screaming and something smells very yucky,” said a transit rider as they waited for their bus downtown Saskatoon.
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they → scream → bus
Another person said: “I actually have a bipolar illness and it’s probably true because you get out in public and you’re able to get used to people instead of sitting at home and getting worse mentally.”
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you → say → home
Fuller said that transit is also a great conversation starter.
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transit → say → ?
“One of the things I like to say is like transit or mobility, sort of getting around the city is kind of like the weather.
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getting → like → weather
Everybody talks about it and everyone has an opinion about it,” he said.
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he → talk → it
Fuller added that no matter what mode of transportation you use, whether it be biking, driving, or transit, getting around can be hard on mental health.
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getting → add → health
With this project, they are hoping to change that.
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they → hop → that
“What we really want to know is how the change in the system impacts people’s behavior and whether we can get people… who are using different modes of transportation onto the BRT Link system to be able to improve access to different locations, increase people’s physical activity and maybe change their well-being,” said Fuller.
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Fuller → want → being
The research project uses surveys and apps to gather the data.
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project → use → data
Fuller says they are finding people in Saskatoon are more connected in their community.
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people → say → community
“We do see that in general in Saskatoon compared to other cities,” he said.
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he → see → cities
“So, the INTERACT study has Victoria, Vancouver, Saskatoon, and Montreal as cities that are participating, that people in Saskatoon do tend to have a little bit higher sense of community or sense of social connectedness compared to those other cities.
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people → have → cities
A new survey for INTERACT will be launched in the fall.
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survey → launch → fall
Watch the video above for more on how transit can improve your health.
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transit → watch → health
