Authors
Billie Giles-Corti, Gina Wood, Terri Pikora, Vincent Learnihan, Max Bulsara, Kimberly Van Niel, Anna Timperio, Gavin McCormack, Karen Villanueva
Publication date
2011/3/1
Journal
Health & place
Volume
17
Issue
2
Pages
545-550
Publisher
Pergamon
Description
The impact of neighborhood walkability (based on street connectivity and traffic exposure) within 2km of public primary schools on children regularly walking to school was examined. The most (n=13) and least walkable (n=12) schools were selected using a school-specific ‘walkability’ index and a cross sectional study undertaken of Year 5, 6 and 7 children (n=1480) and consenting parents (n=1332). After adjustment, regularly walking to school was higher in children attending schools in high walkable neighborhoods (i.e, high street connectivity and low traffic volume) (Odds ratio (OR) 3.63; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 2.01–6.56), and less likely in neighborhoods with high connectivity but high traffic volume (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.22–0.47). Connected street networks provide direct routes to school but when designed for heavy traffic, the potential for children to walk to school is reduced. This highlights the importance …
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