Urban Form and a Child’s Trip to School: The Current Literature and a Framework for Future Research

TLDR

Urban form is increasingly targeted by policies to influence children’s school travel, yet evidence linking it to actual travel behavior remains scarce. The study aims to develop a conceptual framework that clarifies how urban form influences children’s school trips, guiding future policy and research. The article reviews transportation and health problems addressed by these policies, surveys planning and public health literature on urban form and child travel behavior, and proposes a conceptual framework to capture their complex relationship.

Abstract

Recently created policies and programs target urban form as a primary factor in changes in children’s travel behavior to school. Unfortunately, little research exists that supports a direct relationship between urban form and a child’s trip to school. This article first discusses the transportation and health problems these policies attempt to address. It then reviews the current planning and public health literature on the relationship between urban form and children’s travel behavior. Finally, a conceptual framework is outlined that addresses the complexity of the relationship between urban form and a child’s trip to school to guide future policy and research.