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How street greenery facilitates active travel for university students

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  • Bai, Yihang
  • Cao, Mengqiu
  • Wang, Ruoyu
  • Liu, Yuqi
  • Wang, Seunghyeon

Abstract

Introduction: Active travel is currently gaining popularity worldwide as a sustainable form of travel. However, very few studies have examined how the built environment affects active travel behaviour on university campuses, particularly in China. It is a key feature of Chinese university campuses that they are generally gated communities, which are spatially organised in a very different way from campuses in other countries, and they often also provide for students’ daily needs, meaning that students tend to travel off-campus less frequently. Aims: This research aims to explore the link between street greenery and the active travel behaviour of students on closed university campuses in China. Methods: The study combined sensor data from Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre (HEMC), China, with individual cross-sectional survey data from university students and applied a multilevel logistic regression model to conduct the analysis. Street-view images were analysed using a deep learning approach, which represents an emerging method for assessing urban green space. Results: The results demonstrated that street greenery on campuses is positively associated with active travel among university students. Modes of travel also influenced active travel, with university students who owned bicycles tending to participate in active travel more; however, those who travelled by electric bikes were less likely to participate in active travel. Conclusions: This study suggests that policymakers and transport planners should focus more on greening urban areas and improving walking and cycling environments to achieve green transport goals through urban planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Bai, Yihang & Cao, Mengqiu & Wang, Ruoyu & Liu, Yuqi & Wang, Seunghyeon, 2022. "How street greenery facilitates active travel for university students," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 115239, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:115239
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/115239/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yiwei Bai & Yihang Bai & Ruoyu Wang & Tianren Yang & Xinyao Song & Bo Bai, 2023. "Exploring Associations between the Built Environment and Cycling Behaviour around Urban Greenways from a Human-Scale Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Ziqian Bao & Yihang Bai & Tao Geng, 2023. "Examining Spatial Inequalities in Public Green Space Accessibility: A Focus on Disadvantaged Groups in England," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-22, September.
    3. Hongguo Ren & Lei Zhang & Jing Zhang & Xue Wang & Qingqin Wang, 2024. "Exploration of a Rural Street Environment: The Difference in Sight between Villagers and Tourists," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Raziye Peker & Mustafa Sinan Yardim & Kadir Berkhan Akalin, 2024. "Factors Influencing Transportation Mode Preferences for Educational Trips Among Dormitory Resident University Students in Kütahya, Türkiye," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-13, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    active travel; health; equity; behavioural change; street greenery; urban planning;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C1 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

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