This study investigates the relationship between the built environment and parents perceptions of barriers to walking or biking from school, as well as the effects that urban form, distance to school, parental perceptions and demographics have on mode choice. Parents of students at schools in the Safe Routes to School program in Portland, Oregon were surveyed about travel habits and perceptions of what barriers to biking and walking have the greatest impact on their children's travel. These were compared to urban form conditions, including distance, sidewalks, bike facilities, major street crossings, slope, and crime rate; and to demographic characteristics such as grade, gender, income, and ethnicity. The analysis indicates that parental perceptions of traffic-related barriers are not consistent withobjective measures of the street environment, but perceptions of crime rates and lack of sidewalks are both supported by on-the-ground conditions. Variables that significantly increase walking and biking among all students include distance to school, sidewalks, if the school encourages walking and biking, grade, and income. Major road crossings and weather deter these modes. Students who live within a half-mile of school are more likely towalk and bike if there are sidewalks or if the school encourages walking and biking, while slope, major street crossings, and weather are deterrents. This analysis supports policies that promote neighborhood schools, improvements to walkability, and encouraging students through the Safe Routes to School program, to increase the number of school children walking and biking to school.
Abstract