title: Active commuting to school in New Zealand children (2004-2008): a quantitative analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe trends in active commuting to school in children from Auckland region, New Zealand following implementation of the School Travel Plan (STP) program. The program included educational initiatives, enforcement activities and urban form changes around school environments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Active commuting to school was estimated for 57,096 students, aged 5-10 years, from 56 elementary schools. Data were drawn from surveys conducted between 2004 and 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an overall increase in active commuting by the third year of STP implementation when compared to baseline levels (40.5% to 42.2%), [OR = 2.65, 95% CI = 1.75-4.02]. Students of high socio-economic background improved (38.9% to 39.1%) compared to those from mid [OR=0.66, 95% CI=0.82-1.01] and low [OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.32-0.68]. STP appealed to senior (43.6% to 44.3%), [OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.15-1.53] when compared to junior elementary students. The STP was equally effective in schools with small to medium student rolls compared to large schools (34.1% to 36.5%), [OR=1.33, 95% CI = 1.09-1.63]. Schools in Auckland city (47.2% to 48.1%), [OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.20-1.70] showed significant improvements when compared to schools from North Shore City.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The STP was associated with increased active commuting in children after three years of implementation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. erica.hinckson@aut.ac.nz
authors.forename: Erica A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hinckson
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garrett
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duncan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D016017:Odds Ratio; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods*