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Understanding modal choice for the trip to school

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  • Lang, Debbie
  • Collins, Damian
  • Kearns, Robin

Abstract

This paper examines the factors that lead parents to select travel modes for their children’s trip to school. It does so with reference to parents whose children attend a suburban school in Auckland, New Zealand, where walking and driving are the two main travel options. Four focus groups were conducted in order to understand parents’ transport decisions. This approach revealed the significance of the following factors: perceived distance and time constraints; concerns about children’s health and fitness, as well as their competence; road safety and congestion issues; and social norms. We conclude that the reasons leading parents to drive are manifold, and, as such, a variety of interventions is needed to promote walking.

Suggested Citation

  • Lang, Debbie & Collins, Damian & Kearns, Robin, 2011. "Understanding modal choice for the trip to school," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 509-514.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:19:y:2011:i:4:p:509-514
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2010.05.005
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    3. Leung, Kevin Y.K. & Astroza, Sebastian & Loo, Becky P.Y. & Bhat, Chandra R., 2019. "An environment-people interactions framework for analysing children's extra-curricular activities and active transport," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 341-358.
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    6. Saad AlQuhtani, 2023. "Factors Affecting Active Commuting to School in Sprawled Cities: The Case of Najran City, Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, June.
    7. Rong, Peijun & Kwan, Mei-Po & Qin, Yaochen & Zheng, Zhicheng, 2022. "A review of research on low-carbon school trips and their implications for human-environment relationship," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    8. Curtis, Carey & Babb, Courtney & Olaru, Doina, 2015. "Built environment and children's travel to school," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 21-33.
    9. Metcalfe, Robert & Dolan, Paul, 2012. "Behavioural economics and its implications for transport," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 503-511.
    10. Chen, Peng & Jiao, Junfeng & Xu, Mengyuan & Gao, Xu & Bischak, Chris, 2018. "Promoting active student travel: A longitudinal study," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 265-274.
    11. Kamruzzaman, Md. & Hine, Julian, 2013. "Self-proxy agreement and weekly school travel behaviour in a sectarian divided society," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 74-85.
    12. Dorji Wangzom & Marcus White & Jeni Paay, 2023. "Perceived Safety Influencing Active Travel to School—A Built Environment Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-12, January.
    13. De Witte, Astrid & Hollevoet, Joachim & Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Hubert, Michel & Macharis, Cathy, 2013. "Linking modal choice to motility: A comprehensive review," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 329-341.
    14. Zhang, Rui & Yao, Enjian & Liu, Zhili, 2017. "School travel mode choice in Beijing, China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 98-110.
    15. Pojani, Dorina & Boussauw, Kobe, 2014. "Keep the children walking: active school travel in Tirana, Albania," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 55-65.
    16. Kelly, J. Andrew & Fu, Miao, 2014. "Sustainable school commuting – understanding choices and identifying opportunities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 221-230.
    17. Singh, Nishant & Vasudevan, Vinod, 2018. "Understanding school trip mode choice – The case of Kanpur (India)," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 283-290.
    18. Houshmand Masoumi & Martin van Rooijen & Grzegorz Sierpiński, 2020. "Children’s Independent Mobility to School in Seven European Countries: A Multinomial Logit Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-21, December.
    19. Emond, Catherine R. & Handy, Susan L., 2012. "Factors associated with bicycling to high school: insights from Davis, CA," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 71-79.

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