Examining the impact of the walking school bus with an agent-based model.
We used an agent-based model to examine the impact of the walking school bus (WSB) on children's active travel to school. We identified a synergistic effect of the WSB with other intervention components such as an educational campaign designed to improve attitudes toward active travel to school. Results suggest that to maximize active travel to school, children should arrive on time at "bus stops" to allow faster WSB walking speeds. We also illustrate how an agent-based model can be used to identify the location of routes maximizing the effects of the WSB on active travel. Agent-based models can be used to examine plausible effects of the WSB on active travel to school under various conditions and to identify ways of implementing the WSB that maximize its effectiveness.
At the time of this study, Yong Yang and Ana Diez-Roux were with the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Kelly R. Evenson was with the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Natalie Colabianchi was with the Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Yong
Y
Yang
Ana
A
Diez-Roux
Kelly R
KR
Evenson
Natalie
N
Colabianchi
D001290:Attitude; D015444:Exercise; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D012449:Safety; D012574:Schools; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods*; D016138:Walking