Identifying factors affecting the number of students walking or biking to school

Abstract

This paper reports on a study that was conducted to investigate the characteristics of student travel behaviors before the implementation of a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. It also seeks to identify the influential factors that affect the number of children who walk or bike to school. As part of the Florida SRTS program, a pilot survey was conducted for both students and parents in Hillsborough County, Florida before the program started. Student survey results showed that student demographic characteristics such as grade, gender, the number of children in the family, and the distance from home to school influence their travel mode to school. Parent's subjective opinions were also significantly associated with student's travel mode to school. Distance, intersection safety and weather/climate were considered affective on a parent's decision on whether to allow their child to walk or bike to school.