Student Travel: Evidence from 13 Diverse Metro Regions of the United States

1. Guang Tian and Reid Ewing Student Travel: Evidence from 13 Diverse Metro Regions of the United States Presented by: Guang Tian City and Metropolitan Planning University of Utah guang.tian@utah.edu Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

2. Travel to school Introduction 48% 1969 12% 2009 46% 13% Less and less students walk and bike to school. Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

3. Why are there less and less students choosing walk or bike to school? http://c10.nrostatic.com/sites/default/files/uploaded/pic_related_030415_RVBA.jpg Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

4. Distance is reported as a primary factor that impacts children’s walking or biking to school. (Black et al., 2001; Bringolf-Isler et al., 2008; Emond and Handy, 2010; Ewing et al., 2004; Frank et al., 2007; Larsen et al., 2011; McDonald, 2007; Mitra and Buliung, 2012; Müller et al., 2008; Schlossberg et al., 2006; Stewart, 2011; Timperio et al., 2006; Yarlagadda and Srinivasan, 2008). Some built environments are associated with walking and biking to school. (). https://i.imgur.com/kPs9B2q.jpg Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

5. However, the relationship is not generally found (Ewing et al., 2004; Yarlagadda and Srinivasan, 2008; Wong et al., 2011). • Both the positive and negative relationships between walking and biking to school and built environment are reported (Boarnet et al., 2005; Frank et al., 2007; Giles-Corti et al., 2011; Larsen et al., 2011; Marique et al., 2013; Mitra and Buliung, 2012; Panter et al., 2008; Schlossberg et al., 2006Larsen et al., 2011; Timperio et al., 2006). The evidence of how built environment impact student’s travel-to-school choice is not consistent. Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

6. Research Question • Howdo students travel to and from school? • Whatis the relationship between built environment around schools and homes and student’s travel choices? Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

7. Regional characteristics External factors Local characteristics • Region Size • Compactness index • Gas price • Weather • Social/culture norm • Safety • etc. Research Design • Density • Diversity • Design • Distance to transit • Destination accessibility Mode choice • Walk • Bike • Transit • school bus • Auto Traveler characteristics • Household income • Household size • Vehicle ownership • Driver license • Gender Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

8. Data Collection Methodology Household Travel Surveys http://www.nanaimo.ca/assets/Departments/Engineering~Public~Works/Transportation~Master~Plan/Complex%20Travel2.png Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

9. Built environment: Other GIS layers • Parcel level land use • Population and employment • Street network (buffers) • Intersections • Transit stops • Travel time skims (TAZs) Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

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11. Analysis method multilevel binomial logistic regressions … Boston Houston Level 2: region … … Level 1: student Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

12. Mode share of all K-12 school trips Results Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

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15. Limitations • Sample of Regions (the more regions, the more powerful of the regression) • Street network assumptions • Missing variables (weather, SRTS program etc.) • Self-selection – attitudes and preferences Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

16. Sociodemographic characteristics have strong influences on student travel choice. Conclusions • Built environment matters. • There are statistically significant positive relationships between built environment (D variables) and students’ walking and biking choice. • With the increase of D variables, the probability of students’ walking and biking increase. • Students travel differs from metro to metro. • Students from compact metro areas have higher probability of walking and biking to school. • With the increase of gas price, the probability of students’ biking to school increase. Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah

17. Thank you ! Guang Tian University of Utah guang.tian@utah.edu Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah