Carey Curtis

Associations of children's independent mobility and active travel with physical activity, sedentary behaviour and weight status: A systematic review

UNLABELLED Health benefits from childrens independent mobility and active travel beyond school travel are largely unexplored. OBJECTIVES This review synthesized the evidence for associations of independent mobility and active travel to various destinations with physical activity, sedentary behaviour and weight status. DESIGN Systematic review. METHODS A systematic search in six databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, SportDiscus, PsychInfo, TRIS) for papers published between January 1990 and March 2012 was undertaken, focussing on children aged 3-18 years. Study inclusion and methodological quality were independently assessed by two reviewers. RESULTS 52 studies were included. Most studies focussed solely on active travel to and/or from school, and showed significant positive associations with physical activity. The same relationship was detected for active travel to leisure-related places and independent mobility with physical activity. An inverse relationship between active travel to school and weight status was evident but findings were inconsistent. Few studies examined correlations between active travel to school and self-reported screen-time or objectively measured sedentary behaviour, and findings were unclear. CONCLUSIONS Studies on independent mobility suggested that children who have the freedom to play outdoors and travel actively without adult supervision accumulate more physical activity than those who do not. Further investigation of childrens active travel to leisure-related destinations, measurement of diverse sedentary behaviour beyond simply screen-based activities, and consistent thresholds for objectively measured sedentary behaviour in children will clarify the inconsistent evidence base on associations of active travel with sedentary behaviour and weight status.

Targeting travel awareness campaigns: Which individuals are more likely to switch from car to other transport for the journey to work?

This paper adds to the work on the subject of car dependency and seeks to give more precise guidance to those responsible for promoting travel awareness campaigns by exploring which car commuters are likely to be the best targets for marketing non-car modes. The findings from research examining the relationship between current travel behaviour and attitudes to changing behaviour are reported. It is suggested that whilst the majority of car commuters are highly car orientated and not susceptible to mode change a significant minority are susceptible to change. This group are more likely to be male, in their 30s and, most importantly undertake short distance work journeys of 5 miles or less. In addition to identifying target groups, the paper provides guidance on the policy changes required in order to encourage a shift from the car to an alternative mode. It is clear that raising individual awareness is an important factor in addressing the issue of car dependency.

Network City: Retrofitting the Perth Metropolitan Region to Facilitate Sustainable Travel

‘Network City’, the latest 25-year planning strategy for metropolitan Perth, Western Australia, is designed to realise the integration of land use and transport networks within established and new areas. This article examines the influence of urban form on travel patterns and the case for sustainable travel outcomes in order to set in context the ‘Network City’ concept. The concept is described, and then the article focuses on the operational detail needed to progress towards fuller integration between the transport network and the city it serves. This includes analysis of urban structure in the context of the factors that influence efficient use of public transport: including residential density, intensity of activity and the hierarchy of activity centres. The implications for road planning are discussed where land use–transport integration is the core objective rather than simply traffic efficiency. If sustainable travel is to be facilitated there is a need to change both the operation of public transport and the urban structure and these changes are mutually supportive.

Integrating Land Use with Public Transport: The Use of a Discursive Accessibility Tool to Inform Metropolitan Spatial Planning in Perth

Abstract Traditional transport modelling tools have not been used to enable planners to assess the extent to which future metropolitan growth options achieve sustainable accessibility through land use transport integration (LUTI). Further, both the characteristics and use of traditional tools limit the opportunity for stakeholders to participate in an explorative, open‐ended decision‐making process. The paper reports on how a new accessibility assessment tool, designed to overcome these problems, was employed with planning and transport practitioners to enable informed choices between scenarios for future change to Perth’s metropolitan spatial structure and public transport network. It was found that the tool provided measurements for public transport accessibility where previously there were none. More importantly practitioners’ understanding about LUTI was enhanced, particularly by showing the relationships between transport network accessibility and the accessibility of ‘place’.

Institutional barriers to sustainable transport

Contents: Preface Introduction Sustainable transport and institutional barriers The irrationality of path dependence Transport planning in Australia How organizations shape infrastructure: roads organizations How organizations shape infrastructure: public transport organizations Transport plans in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth The discourse of roads The discourse of public transport Stakeholder groups Contemporary mental models Overcoming the barriers Bibliography Appendices Index.

An institutional model for land use and transport integration

The integration of land use planning and transport planning to achieve sustainable travel behaviour has been espoused as a desirable outcome for many years. Development and establishment of appropriate institutional arrangements coupled with effective policy and planning processes is a crucial component in the achievement of this desirable outcome. The merging of the Western Australian Governments planning and transport agencies in 2001 provided the catalyst for the development of this institutional model with the aim to achieve desired land use and transport integration outcomes. The model draws together principles of transport planning, land use planning, public policy and organisational behaviour. A local case study illustrates the potential for the models application in practice. An organisational structure is suggested that employs a matrix style approach, akin to a project-based approach, drawing on the multidisciplinary skills within the planning and infrastructure portfolio, and using the full range of non-traditional resources.

The Relevance of Traditional Town Planning Concepts for Travel Minimization

Abstract The ‘neighbourhood’ and ‘self-containment’ are longstanding town planning concepts aimed at travel minimization. While they remain central to practice, the transit-oriented development concept brings into question the relevance of planning for self-containment. Instead, the intention of transit-oriented development is to provide for travel both within the neighbourhood and within the sub-region. By examining the extent to which Perth residents actually minimize travel, we show that the planning concepts of ‘neighbourhood’ and of ‘self-containment’ need refinement. For the neighbourhood there is a question of scale. For self-containment there is a need to concentrate employment destinations around railway stations and to resist locations that do not meet this criterion. ‘Self-containment’ is an ill-defined concept that must be given clearer focus.

Australian children's independent mobility levels: Secondary analyses of cross-sectional data between 1991 and 2012

This study investigated changes in Australian childrens independent mobility levels between1991 and 2012. Data from five cross-sectional studies conducted in 1991, 1993, 2010, 2011 and 2012 were analysed. Parent and child surveys were used to assess parental licences for independent mobility and actual independent mobility behaviour in children aged 8–13 years. Findings show declines in the proportion of young children (≤10 years of age) being allowed to travel home from school alone (1991: 68%, 1993: 50%, 2010: 43%, 2011: 45%, 2012: 31%) and travel on buses alone (1991: 31%, 1993: 15%, 2010: 8%, 2011: 6%, 2012: 9%). Furthermore, the proportion of children travelling independently to school decreased (1991: 61%, 1993: 42%, 2010: 31%, 2011: 32%, 2012: 32%). Significantly fewer girls than boys travelled independently to school at each time point (p ≤ .001). Overall, the findings suggest that Australian childrens independent mobility levels declined between 1991 and 2012.

Transitioning to Transit-Oriented Development: The Case of Perth, Western Australia

Perth has seen one of the most deliberate attempts worldwide to move from car-dependent development patterns to transit-oriented development (TOD). State planning policy has required TOD for the past 20 years, the public transport network has been progressively improved and the institutional arrangements are strong. Three different town planning models have been applied to implement TOD. A series of research investigations examine the land-use response to TOD policy including land-use mapping, policy content analysis and interviews with local government. The findings suggest that transition to TOD requires policy clarity and consistent application, considered integration of land-use planning and transport planning actions at the project level, and incentives for local government and development industry.

Strengths and weaknesses of accessibility instruments in planning practice : Technological rules based on experiential workshops

ABSTRACT Accessibility instruments can play a valuable role in urban planning practice by providing a practical framework for exploring and testing relationships between land use and transport infrastructure. Despite many available accessibility instruments, they are still not widely used in planning practice. This paper explores the background of this problem by examining the findings of a EU-funded study on the usability and usefulness of existing accessibility instruments. The study applied 16 instruments in local planning contexts according to a standardized process protocol. The outcomes of these so-called experiential workshops were analysed through a standardized measurement protocol, which included participant observation along with pre- and post-workshop practitioner questionnaires. This broad investigation presents a rich analytical tool for understanding how different types of accessibility measures, spatial resolutions of output and levels of comprehensiveness affect usability and usefulness. Based on this we propose 10 technological rules that (a) can be used directly in practice to improve usability of accessibility instruments and (b) can provide hypotheses to be examined in further academic studies. Our results suggest that instead of striving for the ultimate accessibility measure, it would be more effective to identify which measures could successfully serve different user needs in accessibility planning.