Exploring Barriers and Solutions to Active Travel to School: A Case Study of River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary Students in Eugene, OR
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Date
2024
Authors
Staben, Alex
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Active travel, or transportation modes requiring physical movement, builds physical activity into daily life, and for young children, much of their travel is to and from school. Active travel to school (ATS) improves physical, mental, and social health, as well as classroom behavior and attendance rates. However, since the 1970s, ATS has rapidly declined as more students ride to school in a vehicle. Transportation is inherently place-based; hence, this study focuses on Spanish-English dual immersion elementary school River Road/El Camino del Río (RRECDR) in the Eugene (OR) 4J school district. Like schools across the nation, very few RRECDR students use ATS. To understand why, I distributed a survey and completed follow-up interviews with parents of RRECDR students assessing 1) the barriers that factor into transportation choices and 2) what needs to change for ATS to increase among RRECDR students. Results indicate the need for a diverse multi-sector sustainable leadership team focused on ATS, increased ATS encouragement through group activities such as walking school buses (WSBs), and infrastructural improvements including crosswalk enhancements and advisory bike lanes in specific locations. Findings also suggest further research into the complex relationship between ATS and accessibility of heritage language immersion education and ATS (and active travel more generally) and the housing crisis.
Description
Keywords
Active transportation, Active travel to school, Safe Routes to School, Transportation planning, Community engagement