The Threshold Distance Associated with Walking from Home to School

This article reports on a study undertaken to determine the threshold distance associated with walking from home to school. The authors examined the patterns of commuting to school in children and adolescents, noting gender and area of residence, and focusing on the relationship between distance from home to school and mode of commuting. Their aim was also to the threshold distance below which young people are more likely to walk to school. The study included 6,004 students from Spain, with an age range from 7 to 18 years. The authors surveyed the students regarding mode of commuting and measured the distance using Google Maps. The authors found that approximately 67% of children and 60% of adolescents commuted to school actively (mainly walking). In children (ages 7 – 11 years), the threshold distance for walking to school was 875 m, 0.54 miles, and it was higher among urban (1,250 m, 0.78 miles) than in rural students (675 m, 0.42 miles). Among adolescents (age 12 to 18 years), the threshold distance for walking to school was 1,350 m, 0.84 miles, and it was lower among urban (1,350 m, 0.84 miles) than in rural participants (1,550 m, 0.96 miles). The authors conclude with a brief discussion of the implications of their study for the promotion of active commuting.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198116688429
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/10901981
• Authors:
  • Rodriguez-Lopez, Carlos
  • Salas-Farina, Zeus M
  • Villa-Gonzalez, Emilio
  • Borges-Cosic, Milkana
  • Herrador-Colmenero, Manuel
  • Medina-Casaubon, Jesus
  • Ortega, Francisco B
  • Chillon, Palma
• Publication Date: 2017-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 857-866
• Serial:
  • Health Education and Behavior
  • Volume: 44
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Sage Publications, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 1090-1981
  • EISSN: 1552-6127
  • Serial URL: http://heb.sagepub.com/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Children; Commuting; Nonmotorized transportation; Rural areas; School trips; Trip length; Urban areas; Walking distance
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01682919
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 10 2018 4:43PM