Modeling Children’s Independent Walk and Bike Travel to Parks and School

It is commonly acknowledged that children today are traveling less often by active modes and less often without adult supervision. Potential negative effects of these joint trends may include, for children, a decrease in overall physical activity levels and the loss of developmental benefits from independently navigating their neighborhood environment, and, for society as a whole, an increase in vehicle miles traveled and associated negative externalities. This research models the propensity of children aged 6-17 to walk or bike to parks and school without an adult. A rich set of potential correlates was available from linked household, parent, and child survey questionnaires completed by 330 families in Portland, Oregon. Binomial logit models were specified for each of four reported independent travel behaviors: walk and bike to parks at least once per month, and walk and bike to school at least once per month. Proximity, household socio-demographics, rules, norms, attitudes, children’s related travel behavior and adults’ past experience were significantly correlated with children’s independent active travel. As measured, land-use and built environment factors appeared subordinate to attitudes and rules. Considerable differences were observed in the models by both mode and destination. Finally, additional models were estimated to better understand correlates of household rules. Taken together, the results underscore the importance of treating walk and bike travel separately, studying non-school trips, and incorporating variables at child, adult, household, and neighborhood level.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Features: References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 14p
  • Monograph Title: TRB 92nd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01473899
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: 13-5327
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Feb 27 2013 9:20AM