Where Are Youth Active? Roles of Proximity, Active Transport, and Built Environment

2008 ◽  
Vol 40 (12) ◽  
pp. 2071-2079 ◽  
Author(s):  
HELENE MOLLIE GROW ◽  
BRIAN E. SAELENS ◽  
JACQUELINE KERR ◽  
NEFERTITI H. DURANT ◽  
GREGORY J. NORMAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Active Transport

scholarly journals Built environment changes and active transport to school among adolescents: BEATS Natural Experiment Study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e034899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Mandic ◽  
Debbie Hopkins ◽  
Enrique García Bengoechea ◽  
Antoni Moore ◽  
Susan Sandretto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Natural Experiments ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Social Environmental ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionNatural experiments are considered a priority for examining causal associations between the built environment (BE) and physical activity (PA) because the randomised controlled trial design is rarely feasible. Few natural experiments have examined the effects of walking and cycling infrastructure on PA and active transport in adults, and none have examined the effects of such changes on PA and active transport to school among adolescents. We conducted the Built Environment and Active Transport to School (BEATS) Study in Dunedin city, New Zealand, in 2014–2017. Since 2014, on-road and off-road cycling infrastructure construction has occurred in some Dunedin neighbourhoods, including the neighbourhoods of 6 out of 12 secondary schools. Pedestrian-related infrastructure changes began in 2018. As an extension of the BEATS Study, the BEATS Natural Experiment (BEATS-NE) (2019–2022) will examine the effects of BE changes on adolescents’ active transport to school in Dunedin, New Zealand.Methods and analysisThe BEATS-NE Study will employ contemporary ecological models for active transport that account for individual, social, environmental and policy factors. The published BEATS Study methodology (surveys, accelerometers, mapping, Geographic Information Science analysis and focus groups) and novel methods (environmental scan of school neighbourhoods and participatory mapping) will be used. A core component continues to be the community-based participatory approach with the sustained involvement of key stakeholders to generate locally relevant data, and facilitate knowledge translation into evidence-based policy and planning.Ethics and disseminationThe BEATS-NE Study has been approved by the University of Otago Ethics Committee (reference: 17/188). The results will be disseminated through scientific publications and symposia, and reports and presentations to stakeholders.Trial registration numberACTRN12619001335189.

scholarly journals Sociodemographic and Built Environment Associates of Travel to School by Car among New Zealand Adolescents: Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 9138
Author(s):  
Sandra Mandic ◽  
Erika Ikeda ◽  
Tom Stewart ◽  
Nicholas Garrett ◽  
Debbie Hopkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
School Level ◽  
Stepwise Logistic Regression ◽  
Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽  
Intersection Density ◽  
Car Travel

Travelling to school by car diminishes opportunities for physical activity and contributes to traffic congestion and associated noise and air pollution. This meta-analysis examined sociodemographic characteristics and built environment associates of travelling to school by car compared to using active transport among New Zealand (NZ) adolescents. Four NZ studies (2163 adolescents) provided data on participants’ mode of travel to school, individual and school sociodemographic characteristics, distance to school and home-neighbourhood built-environment features. A one-step meta-analysis using individual participant data was performed in SAS. A final multivariable model was developed using stepwise logistic regression. Overall, 60.6% of participants travelled to school by car. When compared with active transport, travelling to school by car was positively associated with distance to school. Participants residing in neighbourhoods with high intersection density and attending medium deprivation schools were less likely to travel to school by car compared with their counterparts. Distance to school, school level deprivation and low home neighbourhood intersection density are associated with higher likelihood of car travel to school compared with active transport among NZ adolescents. Comprehensive interventions focusing on both social and built environment factors are needed to reduce car travel to school.

scholarly journals Built Environment and Active Transport to School (BEATS) Study: protocol for a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. e011196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Mandic ◽  
John Williams ◽  
Antoni Moore ◽  
Debbie Hopkins ◽  
Charlotte Flaherty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Study Protocol ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional

scholarly journals Active Transport to School and School Neighbourhood Built Environment across Urbanisation Settings in Otago, New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 9013
Author(s):  
Mohammad Lutfur Rahman ◽  
Tessa Pocock ◽  
Antoni Moore ◽  
Sandra Mandic
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
School Level ◽  
Residential Density ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Walkability Index ◽  
Intersection Density

The school neighbourhood built environment (BE) can facilitate active transport to school (ATS) in adolescents. Most previous studies examining ATS were conducted in large urban centres and focused on BE of home neighbourhoods. This study examined correlations between school-level ATS rates among adolescents, objectively measured school neighbourhood BE features, and adolescents’ perceptions of the school route across different urbanisation settings. Adolescents (n = 1260; 15.2 ± 1.4 years; 43.6% male) were recruited from 23 high schools located in large, medium, and small urban areas, and rural settings in Otago, New Zealand. Adolescents completed an online survey. School neighbourhood BE features were analysed using Geographic Information Systems. School neighbourhood intersection density, residential density and walkability index were higher in large urban areas compared to other urbanisation settings. School-level ATS rates (mean 38.1%; range: 27.8%–43.9%) were negatively correlated with school neighbourhood intersection density (r = −0.58), residential density (r = −0.60), and walkability index (r = −0.64; all p < 0.01). School-level ATS rates were also negatively associated with adolescents’ perceived safety concerns for walking (r = −0.76) and cycling (r = −0.78) to school, high traffic volume (r = −0.82), and presence of dangerous intersections (r = −0.75; all p < 0.01). Future initiatives to encourage ATS should focus on school neighbourhood BE features and minimise adolescents’ traffic safety related concerns.

How are the built environment and household travel characteristics associated with children's active transport in Melbourne, Australia?

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 115-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Carver ◽  
A. Barr ◽  
A. Singh ◽  
H. Badland ◽  
S. Mavoa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Household Travel

scholarly journals A Conceptual Framework for Modelling Safe Walking and Cycling Routes to High Schools

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Lutfur Rahman ◽  
Antoni Moore ◽  
Melody Smith ◽  
John Lieswyn ◽  
Sandra Mandic
Keyword(s):  
High Schools ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Traffic Safety ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
Macro Scale

Active transport to or from school presents an opportunity for adolescents to engage in daily physical activity. Multiple factors influence whether adolescents actively travel to/from school. Creating safe walking and cycling routes to school is a promising strategy to increase rates of active transport. This article presents a comprehensive conceptual framework for modelling safe walking and cycling routes to high schools. The framework has been developed based on several existing relevant frameworks including (a) ecological models, (b) the “Five Es” (engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, and evaluation) framework of transport planning, and (c) a travel mode choice framework for school travel. The framework identifies built environment features (land use mix, pedestrian/cycling infrastructure, neighbourhood aesthetics, and accessibility to local facilities) and traffic safety factors (traffic volume and speed, safe road crossings, and quality of path surface) to be considered when modelling safe walking/cycling routes to high schools. Future research should test this framework using real-world data in different geographical settings and with a combination of tools for the assessment of both macro-scale and micro-scale built environment features. To be effective, the modelling and creation of safe routes to high schools should be complemented by other interventions, including education, enforcement, and encouragement in order to minimise safety concerns and promote active transport.

scholarly journals Walkable Environments and Healthy Urban Moves: Urban Context Features Assessment Framework Experienced in Milan

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Rebecchi ◽  
Maddalena Buffoli ◽  
Marco Dettori ◽  
Letizia Appolloni ◽  
Antonio Azara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Active Transport ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Design Recommendations ◽  
The City

Recent studies in public health have focused on determining the influences of the built environment on the population’s physical and mental health status. In order to promote active transport and physical activity, considered favorable behavior for the prevention non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, it is necessary to reduce the negative effects of the built environment and develop positive ones, such as, for example, a walkable urban space. The aim of the research is to define a city’s walkability assessment framework capable of highlighting points of strength and weakness in its urban environment. All of the aspects that have a direct influence (evidence-based) on fostering the adoption of healthy lifestyles or promoting active transport as a strategy to increase the level of physical activity due to the existence of daily urban travel should be considered. After conducting a literature review aimed at identifying all of the existing assessment tools, 20 research studies were examined in detail. The new evaluation method arises from the comparison and critical selection of the various qualitative–quantitative indicators found, integrated into a multi-criteria analysis structure of dual-scale survey, with reference to walkability and paying attention to those indicators that have implications on health promotion. The new assessment framework, named Milano Walkability Measurement (MWM), is applicable in different urban contexts and was tested in two different areas of Milan. The Macro dimension (i.e., Density, Diversity, and Design criteria) refers to the urban scale and examines the city from a top view. It describes quantitatively the overall urban factors (urban area size equal to 1.5 Km2; typology of data: archival). The Micro dimension (i.e., Usefulness, Safeness, Comfort, and Aesthetics criteria) investigates the city at the street scale level. It describes qualitatively features of the outdoor spaces (road length of about 500/700 mt; typology of data: observational). Finally, the framework was weighted by comparison with a panel of experts. The expected results were reflected in the design recommendations based on the collected qualitative-quantitative data. The developed assessment method brings innovative criteria such as the multi-scaling assessment phase (Macro and Micro) and the ability to take into consideration aspects that according to the literature have relationships with health promotion linked to the improvement of a healthy lifestyle, related to daily active transportation choices. The design recommendations are useful both to policy-makers, to make evidence-based specific choices, and to designers, to understand what aspects of the urban environment must be improved or implemented in order to promote a walkable city.

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