Perceived Challenges and Facilitators of Active Travel Following Implementation of the School Travel-Plan Programme in New Zealand Children and Adolescents

Promoting active travel modes has the potential to improve health outcomes, enhance social capital, and reduce traffic related congestion whilst also providing economic benefits. With this focus in mind, Auckland’s transport agency developed a series of School Travel Plan (STP) initiatives in Auckland schools as part of the Travel Wise for Schools program. The initiative incorporated educational and promotional campaigns to promote carpooling and active transport, combined with the Walking School Bus, cycle training for students, parking restrictions, building of traffic calming measures, and improvement of roads and footpaths. The aim of the present study was to explore the perceived challenges and facilitators of active travel to and from school following implementation of the STP Programme through qualitative feedback from children and adolescents. Focus groups consisting of 4–6 children and 6–12 adolescents were conducted in 10 primary schools and three high schools respectively. The challenges and facilitators for children and adolescents focused primarily on intrapersonal, and interpersonal factors. The themes emerged were similar but for different contexts. Under the child factors category five main themes emerged: peers, enjoyment, safety, parent behavior and health and fitness. The main themes for adolescents were: peers/enjoyment, driving license, safety and health & engagement. Overall, children and adolescents preferred active modes from passive ones, understood the benefits of active travel and provided valuable suggestions which formed the basis of future plan implementation.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2016.05.126
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140516301451
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/22141405
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Hinckson, Erica
• Publication Date: 2016-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 321-325
• Serial:
  • Journal of Transport & Health
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 2214-1405
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/22141405

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Commuting; Nonmotorized transportation; School children; School trips; Travel behavior; Walking
• Geographic Terms: Auckland (New Zealand)
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01612194
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 28 2016 10:40AM