Citation

Merom D, Tudor-Locke C, Bauman AE, Rissel CE. Health Place 2006; 12(4): 678-687.

Affiliation

NSW Centre for Physical Activity and Health, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia. dafnam@health.usyd.edu.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.healthplace.2005.09.003

PMID

16263323

Abstract

Regular active commuting by walking/cycling can help maintain an active lifestyle. The frequency, duration and correlates of school active commuting were examined for primary school children in NSW, Australia. Walking/cycling-only and in combination with bus/car were of short duration (median 7 or 4 min, respectively) and their frequency dropped within a short distance (>0.75 km) from school. Apart from distance, child's age, school affiliation and perceived safety, regular walking/cycling (10 trips, 22%) was associated with parents' travel mode to work and with father taking the child to school. Frequent walking/cycling (5 trips, 37%) was associated with child's level of independence and the perceived benefits of active commuting. Behaviour change in this setting requires multi-level strategies.

Language: en