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Youth Walking and Biking Rates Vary by Environments Around 5 Louisiana Schools
Author(s) -
Gustat Jeanette,
Richards Katherine,
Rice Janet,
Andersen Lori,
ParkerKarst Kathryn,
Cole Shalanda
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/josh.12220
Subject(s) - pedestrian , psychology , physical activity , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , gerontology , transport engineering , environmental health , medicine , physical therapy , engineering
BACKGROUND The prevalence of obesity in children is high, and many do not meet physical activity recommendations. The Safe Routes to School ( SRTS ) program encourages school‐aged children to walk and bike to school. We assessed the condition of the walking/biking environment around schools in Louisiana prior to the state's first SRTS program. METHODS Assessments were made at the neighborhood level with the Pedestrian Environmental Data Scan ( PEDS ) instrument, and at the school and individual levels using the National SRTS Center's teacher tallies and parent surveys. PEDS scores were developed to rate conduciveness to walking/bicycling of proposed SRTS routes. Sites' scores were compared with the percentage of students who walk/bike to school. Five schools in Louisiana were evaluated. RESULTS Overall, more students walked (range: 2.4‐17.4%) than biked (range: 0.3‐4.5%) to school with more students walking home than to school. Predictors of walking/biking to school include distance from school, speed of traffic, school encouragement, and if a student asked permission. Sites with the highest PEDS score had the highest percentage of students who walked/biked to school. CONCLUSIONS There is a role and a need for the SRTS program. The environment and other factors influence biking and walking to school.