Independent Mobility and Mode Choice for School Transportation: A Review and Framework for Future Research

Abstract

Interest in active school transportation has emerged in response to concern over the reduced levels of physical activity (PA) among children. PA derived from active school travel may have important implications for the healthy development of children and youth. This article reviews transportation, urban planning, health and environmental psychology literatures to explore current understanding of school travel behaviour. The major theoretical approaches used to study and explain walking/cycling behaviour were examined; and existing evidence of the influences on school travel outcomes was summarized. Based on this review, the paper outlines a conceptual framework for exploring school travel behaviour of children and youth. The model hypothesizes multiple levels of influence on independent mobility and mode choice for school transportation; independent mobility is conceptualized within the household activity-travel paradigm. Future empirical research based on this framework will inform policy interventions that are focused on children's active mobility and PA.

Keywords:

• physical activity
• children
• youth
• built environment
• escort
• behavioural model of school transportation

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada, doctoral fellowship. The author thanks Dr Ron Buliung, Dr Guy Faulkner and Dr Paul M. Hess, at the University of Toronto, for providing their comments on the draft manuscript.