SYSTEMATIC INCREASE OF DISTANCES FROM HOME TO SCHOOL IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

STELSELMATIGE VERGROTING VAN WOON-SCHOOLAFSTANDEN IN HET VOORTGEZET ONDERWIJS

The Dutch Ministry of Education has decided on a policy to close down small secondary schools implying doubling of minimum pupil standards from 120 to 240 for a four year course. This operation is likely to have effects regarding safety and cost of public transport, because many pupils will have to cycle longer distances and quite a few will change to subsidized means of collective transport. The present study sought to determine on the basis of available data how mileage and modal split in educational journeys have developed in recent years and which factors determine modal split in this market segment. After theorizing about secondary education and mobility, utilizing the available Dutch literature, National Transport Survey and more detailed regional data bases were used to register and analyse 'distance behaviour' and modal choice. A considerable shift from rural to urban schools was found, coinciding with increasing journey length. This shift was more a result of changing educational preferences (in favour of broader opportunities and therefore larger schools) than of school closures. Remarkably modal split changed in favour of cycling, longer distances being accepted as cyclable. A separate set of pupil surveys was used to develop a logit model for prediction of modal split. Of course distance proved to be the dominant factor for a restricted choice between bike and bus. The greater part of school closures is still to come. It is sure to increase (for instance doubling or even tripling) the portion of public transport users, possibly endangering the already weak financial position of local and regional operators. Heavier use of the bike for local journeys could endanger safety. The solution for these problems should be found in the geographical pattern of educational institutions, offering broader educational opportunities at a local level by means of branches of a regional or urban school.

• Corporate Authors:

  TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT, FACULTEIT DER CIVIELE TECHNIEK

  PO BOX 5048
  DELFT,   Netherlands  2628 CN
• Authors:
  • de Boer, E
  • Nederveen, AAJ
  • TACKEN, M
• Publication Date: 1992-4

Language

• Dutch

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 109 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Bicycles; Length; Mathematical models; Modal split; Public transit; Rural areas; Schools; Transportation modes; Travel; Travel time; Trip length; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Selection; Use
• Geographic Terms: Netherlands
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00629524
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Institute for Road Safety Research, SWOV
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jun 14 1993 12:00AM