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Built and Natural Environmental Correlates of Parental Safety Concerns for Children’s Active Travel to School

Author

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  • Young-Jae Kim

    (Department of Forest Resources and Landscape Architecture, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea)

  • Chanam Lee

    (Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, 3137 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3137, USA)

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examines built and natural environmental correlates of parental safety concerns for children’s active travel to school (ATS), controlling for socio-demographic, attitudinal, and social factors. Questionnaire surveys ( n = 3291) completed by parents who had 1st–6th grade children were collected in 2011 from 20 elementary schools in Austin, Texas. Objectively-measured built and natural environmental data were derived from two software programs: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Environment for Visualizing Images (ENVI). Ordinal least square regressions were used for statistical analyses in this study. Results from the fully adjusted final model showed that bike lanes, the presence of highway and railroads, the presence of sex offenders, and steep slopes along the home-to-school route were associated with increased parental safety concerns, while greater intersection density and greater tree canopy coverage along the route were associated with decreased parental safety concerns. Natural elements and walking-friendly elements of the built environment appear important in reducing parental safety concerns, which is a necessary step toward promoting children’s ATS.

Suggested Citation

  • Young-Jae Kim & Chanam Lee, 2020. "Built and Natural Environmental Correlates of Parental Safety Concerns for Children’s Active Travel to School," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:2:p:517-:d:308475
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Melody Smith & Rebecca Amann & Alana Cavadino & Deborah Raphael & Robin Kearns & Roger Mackett & Lisa Mackay & Penelope Carroll & Euan Forsyth & Suzanne Mavoa & Jinfeng Zhao & Erika Ikeda & Karen Witt, 2019. "Children’s Transport Built Environments: A Mixed Methods Study of Associations between Perceived and Objective Measures and Relationships with Parent Licence for Independent Mobility in Auckland, New ," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Young-Jae Kim & Chanam Lee & Jun-Hyun Kim, 2018. "Sidewalk Landscape Structure and Thermal Conditions for Child and Adult Pedestrians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, January.
    3. Larsen, K. & Gilliland, J. & Hess, P. & Tucker, P. & Irwin, J. & He, M., 2009. "The influence of the physical environment and sociodemographic characteristics on children's mode of travel to and from school," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(3), pages 520-526.
    4. McMillan, Tracy Elizabeth, 2003. "Walking and Urban Form: Modeling and Testing Parental Decisions about Children’s Travel," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt6j9639b2, University of California Transportation Center.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Haimei Li & Li Han & Yibin Ao & Yan Wang & Tong Wang, 2022. "Influences of the Built Environment on Rural School Children’s Travel Mode Choice: The Case of Chengdu," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, July.
    3. 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.
    4. Masoud Javadpoor & Ali Soltani & Leila Fatehnia & Negin Soltani, 2023. "How the Built Environment Moderates Gender Gap in Active Commuting to Schools," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Yue Tang & Li Zhu & Jiang Li & Ni Zhang & Yilin Sun & Xiaokang Wang & Honglin Wu, 2023. "Assessment of Perceived Factors of Road Safety in Rural Left-Behind Children’s Independent Travel: A Case Study in Changsha, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-23, June.
    6. Deanna M. Hoelscher & Leigh Ann Ganzar & Deborah Salvo & Harold W. Kohl & Adriana Pérez & Henry Shelton Brown & Sarah S. Bentley & Erin E. Dooley & Amir Emamian & Casey P. Durand, 2022. "Effects of Large-Scale Municipal Safe Routes to School Infrastructure on Student Active Travel and Physical Activity: Design, Methods, and Baseline Data of the Safe Travel Environment Evaluation in Te," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-17, February.

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