title: Influence of social and built environment features on children walking to school: an observational study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the proportion of children living within walking distance who walk to school in Toronto, Canada and identify built and social environmental correlates of walking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational counts of school travel mode were done in 2011, at 118 elementary schools. Built environment data were obtained from municipal sources and school field audits and mapped onto school attendance boundaries. The influence of social and built environmental features on walking counts was analyzed using negative binomial regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean proportion observed walking was 67% (standard deviation=14.0). Child population (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.36), pedestrian crossover (IRR 1.32), traffic light (IRR 1.19), and intersection densities (IRR 1.03), school crossing guard (IRR 1.14) and primary language other than English (IRR 1.20) were positively correlated with walking. Crossing guard presence reduced the influence of other features on walking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first large observational study examining school travel mode and the environment. Walking proportions were higher than those previously reported in Toronto, with large variability. Associations between population density and several roadway design features and walking were confirmed. School crossing guards may override the influence of roadway features on walking. Results have important implications for policies regarding walking promotion.
authors: Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King's College Circle, Room 2374, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada. Electronic address: linda.rothman@sickkids.ca.
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Rothman
authors: Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: To
authors: Department of Geography, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road N, South Building, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada.
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Buliung
authors: Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada.
authors: Colin
authors: C
authors: Macarthur
authors: Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Howard
mesh_terms: D001334:Automobile Driving; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002958:City Planning; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D004779:Environment Design / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011156:Population Density; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012931:Social Environment; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods; D014195:Travel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Child; City planning; Environment and public health; Schools; Walking