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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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    13. 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.
    14. 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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    16. Carver, Alison & Timperio, Anna & Crawford, David, 2013. "Parental chauffeurs: what drives their transport choice?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 72-77.
    17. 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).
    18. 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.
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    20. 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.

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