Abstract
Establishing a less car-oriented mobility ethos through initiatives targeting, among others, children's travel to school could be a key for unlocking the potential for a more sustainable future. A Walking School Bus (WSB)is a relatively new and scarcely evaluated commuting mechanism that in theory provides a creative scheme capable of inspiring voluntary travel behaviour change for children and parents. Through a series of in-depth focus group sessions that were conducted in Bradford, UK this article explores the perceptions of parents that are ultimately the decision-makers about how their children go to school. This work improves the understanding of the different challenges and opportunities underpinning travel to school, in general, and WSBs, in particular, by identifying and discussing six thematic areas of critical importance that explain the decision-making behind potential WSB uptake. These are namely: logistics, safety, trust, health and wellbeing, emotional needs and educational opportunities. Finally, the paper provides policy recommendations about how WSB initiatives can become more effective and attractive mobility tools for local communities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 468-487 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice |
| Volume | 124 |
| Early online date | 9 May 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2019 |
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Exploring parental perceptions about school travel and walking school buses : A thematic analysis approach. / Nikitas, Alexandros; Wang, Judith Y.T.; Knamiller, Cathy.
In: Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Vol. 124, 06.2019, p. 468-487.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring parental perceptions about school travel and walking school buses
T2 - A thematic analysis approach
AU - Nikitas, Alexandros
AU - Wang, Judith Y.T.
AU - Knamiller, Cathy
PY - 2019/6
Y1 - 2019/6
N2 - Establishing a less car-oriented mobility ethos through initiatives targeting, among others, children's travel to school could be a key for unlocking the potential for a more sustainable future. A Walking School Bus (WSB)is a relatively new and scarcely evaluated commuting mechanism that in theory provides a creative scheme capable of inspiring voluntary travel behaviour change for children and parents. Through a series of in-depth focus group sessions that were conducted in Bradford, UK this article explores the perceptions of parents that are ultimately the decision-makers about how their children go to school. This work improves the understanding of the different challenges and opportunities underpinning travel to school, in general, and WSBs, in particular, by identifying and discussing six thematic areas of critical importance that explain the decision-making behind potential WSB uptake. These are namely: logistics, safety, trust, health and wellbeing, emotional needs and educational opportunities. Finally, the paper provides policy recommendations about how WSB initiatives can become more effective and attractive mobility tools for local communities.
AB - Establishing a less car-oriented mobility ethos through initiatives targeting, among others, children's travel to school could be a key for unlocking the potential for a more sustainable future. A Walking School Bus (WSB)is a relatively new and scarcely evaluated commuting mechanism that in theory provides a creative scheme capable of inspiring voluntary travel behaviour change for children and parents. Through a series of in-depth focus group sessions that were conducted in Bradford, UK this article explores the perceptions of parents that are ultimately the decision-makers about how their children go to school. This work improves the understanding of the different challenges and opportunities underpinning travel to school, in general, and WSBs, in particular, by identifying and discussing six thematic areas of critical importance that explain the decision-making behind potential WSB uptake. These are namely: logistics, safety, trust, health and wellbeing, emotional needs and educational opportunities. Finally, the paper provides policy recommendations about how WSB initiatives can become more effective and attractive mobility tools for local communities.
KW - Active transport
KW - Sustainable mobility
KW - Thematic analysis
KW - Travel to school
KW - Walking
KW - Walking school bus
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065236304&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tra.2019.04.011
DO - 10.1016/j.tra.2019.04.011
M3 - Article
VL - 124
SP - 468
EP - 487
JO - Transportation Research, Part A: Policy and Practice
JF - Transportation Research, Part A: Policy and Practice
SN - 0965-8564
ER -