title: Active school travel: an evaluation of the Canadian school travel planning intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Active school travel (AST) may provide a significant source of physical activity for children although rates of AST are declining in many countries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the Canadian School Travel Planning (STP) intervention by examining changes in school travel mode and predictors of mode change.
  
  
  METHODS
  Schools (n=106) across Canada participated between January 2010 and March 2012. STP committees implemented school-specific strategies to increase active school transport (AST) which included educational strategies, activities and events, capital improvement projects and enforcement initiatives. Travel mode at each school was assessed by a hands-up survey and school travel plans were reviewed for content.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete data were available for 53 schools. There was no increase in AST at follow-up after one year. There was variation in mode change between schools. Only season of data collection predicted a decrease in AST in the morning (B=-5.36, p<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This Canadian STP evaluation showed no change in AST after one year. There was evidence of some localized success at nearly half of the participating schools. More robust monitoring and evaluation are needed to examine STP effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mammen
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Michelle R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: guy.faulkner@utoronto.ca.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Subha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography, University of Toronto Mississauga, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buliung
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Health and Wellness, Cape Breton University, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: Green Communities Canada, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jacky
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002170:Canada; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012621:Seasons; D012923:Social Class; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Active school travel; Intervention; Planning