Critical Factors for Active Transportation to School among Low-Income and Minority Students: Evidence from the 2001 National Household Travel Survey

This article reports on a cross-sectional study that used data from the 2001 National Household Travel Survey to document rates of walking and biking to school among low-income and minority youth in the U.S. (n = 14,553). The authors developed binary models of the decision to use active transport to school that can simultaneously adjust for trip, individual, household, and neighborhood correlates. All analyses were conducted in 2007. The results showed that low-income and minority groups, particularly blacks and Hispanics, use active travel modes to get to school at much higher rates than whites or higher-income students. However, racial variation in travel patterns is removed by controlling for household income, vehicle access, distance between home and school, and residential density. The authors conclude that active transportation to school may be an important strategy to increase and maintain physical activity levels for low-income and minority youth. Current policy interventions such as Safe Routes to School have the opportunity to provide benefits for low-income and minority students who are the most likely to walk to school.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/07493797
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • McDonald, Noreen C
• Publication Date: 2008-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 341-344
• Serial:
  • American Journal of Preventive Medicine
  • Volume: 34
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0749-3797
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/07493797

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Blacks; Commuting; Hispanics; Households; Income; Low income groups; Minorities; Private passenger vehicles; Race; Residential areas; School trips; Schools; Socioeconomic factors; Transportation modes; Walking distance
• Identifier Terms: National Household Travel Survey; Safe Routes to School (Program)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01130657
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 22 2009 2:02PM