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.
Highlights
IntroductionPhysical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles among adolescents represent global public health problems [1], with 80% of adolescents (13–18 years old) worldwide not meeting the minimum physical activity guidelines of at least 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day [2,3]
Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles among adolescents represent global public health problems [1], with 80% of adolescents (13–18 years old) worldwide not meeting the minimum physical activity guidelines of at least 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day [2,3].Adolescence is an important stage of life to change physical activity behaviours for both short-term and long-term health benefits [4]
This article introduced a new conceptual framework for modelling safe walking and cycling routes to high schools based on existing literature
Summary
Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles among adolescents represent global public health problems [1], with 80% of adolescents (13–18 years old) worldwide not meeting the minimum physical activity guidelines of at least 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day [2,3]. Adolescence is an important stage of life to change physical activity behaviours for both short-term and long-term health benefits [4]. The level of physical activity significantly declines during this period [5,6]. In New Zealand, approximately 61% of adolescents do not to engage in sufficient physical activity to gain health benefits [7]. Active transport to and from school (ATS). Provides an opportunity to incorporate physical activity into adolescents’ everyday life [8,9].
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