Barriers to and facilitators of walking and bicycling to school: formative results from the non-motorized travel study

Health Educ Behav. 2008 Apr;35(2):221-44. doi: 10.1177/1090198106288794. Epub 2007 Dec 19.

Abstract

Barriers to and facilitators of walking and bicycling to school were explored through 12 focus groups made up of fourth- and fifth-grade students and their parents who lived near their respective schools. The barriers and facilitators reported by parents and children generally fell into one of three categories: intrapersonal and interpersonal characteristics of parents and children, environmental characteristics of the neighborhood, and environmental and policy characteristics of the school. Findings indicate that a supportive environment is a necessary but insufficient condition to increase walking and biking to school. Initiatives to increase active school travel may need to include multiple levels of intervention to be effective.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Attitude
  • Bicycling / psychology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Health Promotion
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motivation
  • North Carolina
  • Public Policy
  • Schools*
  • Social Environment
  • Students / psychology*
  • Travel*
  • Walking / psychology*