OTREC-RR-10-01

This project investigates issues related to parents’ decisions about children’s school transportation. This has become an important area of research due to growing concerns that increased reliance on private automobile in school travel has led to adverse health impacts on children and negative impacts on environment. Using a middle-sized school district in Oregon State, we conducted a 5500-household survey and a number of interviews and focus groups. The study shows that parents considered school transportation in their residential location process; their intention to allow their children to walk or bike to school at this stage had significant impacts on later school travel behavior. This research suggests the needs for stronger coordination between community land us planning and school planning, and stronger emphasis on changing parents’ attitudes toward children walking or biking to school in programs around safe routes to schools.