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An assessment of the benefits of the walking school bus in Christchurch, New Zealand

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  • Kingham, Simon
  • Ussher, Shannon

Abstract

A Walking School Bus involves parents or other adults escorting a group of children on a set route to school. The first one was established in 1996 in Canada. They can now be found in a variety of countries, including New Zealand. Many of the benefits associated with them are based on the general benefits of affecting a modal shift away from cars in favour of walking. However, there is still relatively little known about the less quantifiable benefits of them, and there has been some suggestion that they can adversely affect children's independent mobility. This research examined the perceived benefits of Walking School Buses by interviewing people involved in the day to running of the scheme in Christchurch, New Zealand. The results suggest that walking school buses have many social benefits and that if anything; they encourage children's independent mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Kingham, Simon & Ussher, Shannon, 2007. "An assessment of the benefits of the walking school bus in Christchurch, New Zealand," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 41(6), pages 502-510, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:41:y:2007:i:6:p:502-510
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mackett, Roger L. & Lucas, Lindsey & Paskins, James & Turbin, Jill, 2003. "A methodology for evaluating walking buses as an instrument of urban transport policy," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 10(3), pages 179-186, July.
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    1. Pérez-Martín, P. & Pedrós, G. & Martínez-Jiménez, P. & Varo-Martínez, M., 2018. "Evaluation of a walking school bus service as an intervention for a modal shift at a primary school in Spain," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 1-9.
    2. May, Murray & Tranter, Paul J. & Warn, James R., 2011. "Progressing road safety through deep change and transformational leadership," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(6), pages 1423-1430.
    3. Hjorthol, Randi & Fyhri, Aslak, 2009. "Do organized leisure activities for children encourage car-use?," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 209-218, February.
    4. Schwanen, Tim & Banister, David & Anable, Jillian, 2012. "Rethinking habits and their role in behaviour change: the case of low-carbon mobility," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 522-532.
    5. Tresoldi, Emanuele & Malucelli, Federico & Nonato, Maddalena, 2021. "A personalized walking bus service requiring optimized route decisions: A real case," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 289(3), pages 855-866.
    6. Bodea, Tudor D. & Garrow, Laurie A. & Meyer, Michael D. & Ross, Catherine L., 2009. "Socio-demographic and built environment influences on the odds of being overweight or obese: The Atlanta experience," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 430-444, May.
    7. Hodgson, Susan & Namdeo, Anil & Araujo-Soares, Vera & Pless-Mulloli, Tanja, 2012. "Towards an interdisciplinary science of transport and health: a case study on school travel," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 70-79.
    8. 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.
    9. Fyhri, Aslak & Hjorthol, Randi & Mackett, Roger L. & Fotel, Trine Nordgaard & Kyttä, Marketta, 2011. "Children's active travel and independent mobility in four countries: Development, social contributing trends and measures," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(5), pages 703-710, September.
    10. Pooley, Colin G. & Horton, Dave & Scheldeman, Griet & Tight, Miles & Jones, Tim & Chisholm, Alison & Harwatt, Helen & Jopson, Anne, 2011. "Household decision-making for everyday travel: a case study of walking and cycling in Lancaster (UK)," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(6), pages 1601-1607.
    11. Gina Porter & Jeff Turner, 2019. "Meeting Young People’s Mobility and Transport Needs: Review and Prospect," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-23, November.
    12. Stone, Michelle & Larsen, Kristian & Faulkner, Guy E.J. & Buliung, Ron N. & Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Kelly P. & Lay, Jennifer, 2014. "Predictors of driving among families living within 2km from school: Exploring the role of the built environment," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 8-16.
    13. Nikitas, Alexandros & Wang, Judith Y.T. & Knamiller, Cathy, 2019. "Exploring parental perceptions about school travel and walking school buses: A thematic analysis approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 468-487.
    14. Colin Pooley & Duncan Whyatt & Marion Walker & Gemma Davies & Paul Coulton & Will Bamford, 2010. "Understanding the School Journey: Integrating Data on Travel and Environment," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 42(4), pages 948-965, April.
    15. Collins, Damian & Kearns, Robin A., 2010. "Walking school buses in the Auckland region: A longitudinal assessment," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 17(1), pages 1-8, January.
    16. Thorhauge, Mikkel & Kassahun, Habtamu Tilahun & Cherchi, Elisabetta & Haustein, Sonja, 2020. "Mobility needs, activity patterns and activity flexibility: How subjective and objective constraints influence mode choice," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 255-272.

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