title: School travel plans: preliminary evidence for changing school-related travel patterns in elementary school children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In New Zealand, the School Travel Plan (STP) program was developed to increase school-related active travel rates and decrease traffic congestion. The plan was developed through collaboration among the school, community, and local council. The STP was tailored to each school's specific needs and incorporated educational initiatives, physical infrastructural changes in the vicinity of schools, and policy development. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the STP program in changing school travel modes in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Effectiveness was assessed by determining the difference between pre-STP and follow-up travel mode data in schools. The differences were assessed using multilinear regression analysis, including decile (measure of socioeconomic status), school roll at baseline, and STP year of implementation as predictors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three elementary schools from the Auckland region participated in the study. School size ranged from 130 to 688 students.
  
  
  METHODS
  The final 2006 sample consisted of 13,631 students.
  
  
  METHODS
  On a set day (pre- and post-STP), students indicated their mode of transport to school and intended mode for returning home that day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences are reported as percentage points: there was an increase in active transport by 5.9% ± 6.8% when compared to baseline travel modes. School roll, STP year of implementation, and baseline values predicted engagement with active transport.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary findings suggest that the STP program may be successful in creating mode shift changes to favor school-related active travel in elementary-school children.
authors: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. erica.hinckson@aut.ac.nz
authors: Erica A
authors: EA
authors: Hinckson
authors: Hannah M
authors: HM
authors: Badland
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012572:School Health Services; D012574:Schools; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014195:Travel; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*