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Evaluating safe routes to school events that designate days for walking and bicycling

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  • Buckley, Aaron
  • Lowry, Michael B.
  • Brown, Helen
  • Barton, Benjamin

Abstract

This paper presents a case study evaluation of days designated for walking and bicycling as part of a Safe Routes to School program. The case study examines two elementary schools in Moscow, Idaho that annually participate in two designated days for walking and bicycling, “International Walk to School Day” in the fall and “Fill the Racks!” in the spring. Students walking or bicycling to school were counted before and after the events. For comparison, counts were also observed at a nearby school not involved with the Safe Routes to School program. Count data was collected for 8 days. Furthermore, 45 students and 17 parents were surveyed; and five parents and four community leaders were interviewed. The count data showed a significant increase in students using active modes of travel on the day of the event and a few weeks later. The interviews and surveys showed, among other things, there is strong support for the special events and most parents felt the designated days increased their child's motivation to walk to school. Many parents said the spring event prompted their child to return to walking to school after the cold winter months. Policy implications and other lessons learned are provided.

Suggested Citation

  • Buckley, Aaron & Lowry, Michael B. & Brown, Helen & Barton, Benjamin, 2013. "Evaluating safe routes to school events that designate days for walking and bicycling," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 294-300.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:30:y:2013:i:c:p:294-300
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2013.09.021
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    2. Hazel Williams-Roberts & Bonnie Jeffery & Shanthi Johnson & Nazeem Muhajarine, 2015. "The Effectiveness of Healthy Community Approaches on Positive Health Outcomes in Canada and the United States," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Thomas V. Vasey & Suzanne J. Carroll & Mark Daniel & Margaret Cargo, 2022. "Changing Primary School Children’s Engagement in Active School Travel Using Safe Routes to School Interventions: A Rapid Realist Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-29, August.

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