On your bike! a cross-sectional study of the individual, social and environmental correlates of cycling to school

Georgina Sa Trapp,Max Bulsara,Hayley E Christian,Billie Giles-Corti,Gavin R Mccormack,Karen P Villaneuva,Anna F Timperio

doi:10.1186/1479-5868-8-123

Abstract

BackgroundActive school transport (AST) has declined rapidly in recent decades. While many studies have examined walking, cycling to school has received very little attention. Correlates of cycling are likely to differ to those from walking and cycling enables AST from further distances. This study examined individual, social and environmental factors associated with cycling to school among elementary school-aged children, stratified by gender.MethodsChildren (n = 1197) attending 25 Australian primary schools located in high or low walkable neighborhoods, completed a one-week travel diary and a parent/child questionnaire on travel habits and attitudes.ResultsOverall, 31.2% of boys and 14.6% of girls cycled ≥ 1 trip/week, however 59.4% of boys and 36.7% of girls reported cycling as their preferred school transport mode. In boys (but not girls), school neighborhood design was significantly associated with cycling: i.e., boys attending schools in neighborhoods with high connectivity and low traffic were 5.58 times more likely to cycle (95% CI 1.11-27.96) and for each kilometer boys lived from school the odds of cycling reduced by 0.70 (95% CI 0.63-0.99). Irrespective of gender, cycling to school was associated with parental confidence in their child's cycling ability (boys: OR 10.39; 95% CI 3.79-28.48; girls: OR 4.03; 95% CI 2.02-8.05), parental perceived convenience of driving (boys: OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.23-0.74; girls: OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.20-0.82); and child's preference to cycle (boys: OR 5.68; 95% CI 3.23-9.98; girls: OR 3.73; 95% CI 2.26-6.17).ConclusionSchool proximity, street network connectivity and traffic exposure in school neighborhoods was associated with boys (but not girls) cycling to school. Irrespective of gender, parents need to be confident in their child's cycling ability and must prioritize cycling over driving.

Highlights

Active children are less likely to develop chronic disease risk factors [1], more likely to experience enhanced mental and emotional wellbeing [2,3] and more likely to remain active during adolescence and adulthood [4]
This study used an ecological framework to examine individual, social and environmental factors associated with cycling to school, stratified by gender and is one of the first to consider cycling independent of other forms of active transport
Creating child cycle-friendly communities while at the same time providing children with the skills to safely navigate the environment are important strategies required to increase cycling to school and give parents the confidence that their child can safely do so

Summary

Introduction

Active children are less likely to develop chronic disease risk factors [1], more likely to experience enhanced mental and emotional wellbeing [2,3] and more likely to remain active during adolescence and adulthood [4]. Positive associations walking and cycling to school among Australian children (9-13 years of age) declined by 50% and 80%, respectively [10]. While several studies have examined correlates of AST [11,12,13,14], the literature focuses mainly on walking, with little attention given to cycling. While many studies have examined walking, cycling to school has received very little attention. This study examined individual, social and environmental factors associated with cycling to school among elementary school-aged children, stratified by gender

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion