A Conceptual Framework for Modelling Safe Walking and Cycling Routes to High Schools

Abstract

Active transport to or from school presents an opportunity for adolescents to engage in daily physical activity. Multiple factors influence whether adolescents actively travel to/from school. Creating safe walking and cycling routes to school is a promising strategy to increase rates of active transport. This article presents a comprehensive conceptual framework for modelling safe walking and cycling routes to high schools. The framework has been developed based on several existing relevant frameworks including (a) ecological models, (b) the “Five Es” (engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, and evaluation) framework of transport planning, and (c) a travel mode choice framework for school travel. The framework identifies built environment features (land use mix, pedestrian/cycling infrastructure, neighbourhood aesthetics, and accessibility to local facilities) and traffic safety factors (traffic volume and speed, safe road crossings, and quality of path surface) to be considered when modelling safe walking/cycling routes to high schools. Future research should test this framework using real-world data in different geographical settings and with a combination of tools for the assessment of both macro-scale and micro-scale built environment features. To be effective, the modelling and creation of safe routes to high schools should be complemented by other interventions, including education, enforcement, and encouragement in order to minimise safety concerns and promote active transport.

Are the Parents’ and Their Children’s Physical Activity and Mode of Commuting Associated? Analysis by Gender and Age Group

“…However, around 50% of youths and 75% of adults passively commute to school [ 22 ] and to work [ 23 ], respectively. Multiple factors influence whether schoolchildren actively travel to/from school [ 24 ]. The educational level and the body weight [ 21 ], the socioeconomic level [ 25 ], and the unemployment of the parents [ 26 ] are factors that affect children’s ACS and have been studied.…”

Active Transport to School and School Neighbourhood Built Environment across Urbanisation Settings in Otago, New Zealand

“…Strategies need to be designed to minimise adolescents' and parental perceptions of safety concerns. Some of the strategies could include installation of surveillance cameras to minimise the perceived risk of stranger danger and/or crime and installation of traffic lights along the school routes [24]. Due to the negative correlation between school-level ATS rates and adolescents' traffic safety concerns, the study findings highlighted the importance of minimising adolescents' concerns related to high traffic volume and dangerous crossings along the school routes, particularly in large urban areas.…”

“…Both objective measurement of the school neighbourhood BE (including residential density, intersection density, and neighbourhood walkability) and adolescents' perceptions of safety along the walking and cycling routes to school were found to be significant correlates of school-level ATS rates among adolescents. Our recently published framework related to safe routes to school design also showed that residential density, intersection density, and neighbourhood walkability were important correlates of ATS and should be considered when creating supportive school neighbourhood environment for walking and cycling to school for adolescents [24]. The modification of school neighbourhood BE features when designing interventions (e.g., installing safe road crossings for both pedestrian and cyclists) may encourage adolescents to use ATS.…”

“…Commonly examined perceptions of school neighbourhood BE features included perceptions of aesthetics, quality of walking and cycling infrastructure, and BE features related to traffic and personal safety [21,22]. BE features related to traffic safety (e.g., dangerous intersections and/or crossings, high traffic volume and/or speed, absence of traffic signals, and absence of footpaths and/or cycle paths) and perceived personal safety (e.g., presence of strangers, local crime, surveillance, and poor street lighting) play a role in influencing adolescents' and their parents' perceptions of the safety of walking and cycling home-to-school routes [19,24,25].…”

Association between parents’ physical activity and mode of commuting with their offsprings

“…However, around 50% of youths and 75% of adults passively commute to school (Aubert et al, 2018) and to work (Te Velde et al, 2017), respectively. Multiple factors in uence whether schoolchildren actively travel to/from school (Rahman et al, 2020). The educational level and body weight (Te Velde et al, 2017), the socioeconomic level (D'Haese et al, 2014) and the unemployment of the parents (Rodríguez-López et al, 2013) are factors that affect children's AC and have been studied.…”