School Travel Planning

in Canada

Jacky KennedyDirector, Canada Walks

Green Communities CanadaCanadian TDM Summit 2009

School Travel Planning

in Canada

STP in Canada / HistoryWhat is STP / BenefitsPilot ResultsSummary

CST Guideline 1

In transport and land-use planning, the needs of children and youth should receive as much priority as the needs of people of other ages and the requirements of business.

Progress in Canada towards achieving this goal.

www.kidsonthemove.ca

School Travel Planning History in Canada

PHASE 1 (Sept 2006 –Mar 2007): Research international best practice & develop recommendations for Canada

Transport Canada

PHASE 2 (Nov 2007 –Mar 2009): Pilot test School Travel Planning in 4 provinces

Public Health Agency of Canada

PHASE 3 (Apr 2009 & beyond): Roll out School Travel Planning across Canada

Public Health Agency of Canada/George Weston

Best Practices – Models for National Active School Travel

U.S.A. Safe, Accountable, Flexible & Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)

New Zealand, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA)

Victoria, Australia, Walking School Bus Program

U.K. School Travel Plan Strategy

What is School Travel Planning? A School Travel Plan is both a

document and a process; addressing the issues of sustainability, safety and health associated with ‘the school run’ using a community-based approach.

The School Travel Planning approach has been used with success in many countries.

Overview of School Travel Planning Process

SET-UP(Jun)

DATA COLLECTION*Baseline (Sept/Oct)

*Final (May)

ACTION PLANNING(Oct – Dec)

IMPLEMENTATION(Oct – Jun)

THE STP DOCUMENT

Year 1

Year 2

Benefits of School Travel Planning Considers school travel as part of overall

municipal transportation policies and plans Sets specific implementation targets Involves all relevant stakeholders

Economic benefits accrue Provides measurable targets Supports regional and national priorities

School Travel PlanningPilot Project Partners Four provinces:

British Columbia: Way to Go! School Program*

Alberta: SHAPE Ontario: Green Communities Nova Scotia: Ecology Action

3 pilot schools & 2 control schools in each province

Results: A Canadian Study of Rates and Barriers

Faculty of Physical Education and Health, Faculty of Geography

University of Toronto

Beesley, T., Faulkner, G., Arbour, K., Builing, R.

National Prevalence

Provincial Modes of Transport

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Ontario British Columbia Nova Scotia Alberta

Province

Provincial Rates of AST

AST am

AST pm

Main reasons for driving

21%

18%

17%

16%

11%

11%

6%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Weather

Convenience/time pressures

En route

Distance

Traff ic danger

Saftey

Other

Neighbourhood Barriers

Q10: Do Neighbourhood Barriers Exist

Strongly agree9%

Agree21%

Disagree42%

Strongly disagree28%

Neighbourhood Safety

Q8: Neighbourhood is NOT safe

Strongly agree8%

Agree26%

Disagree52%

Strongly disagree14%

Predictors of PST1. Neighbourhood Barriers (expΒ =

-.621) 2. Not allowed out alone (expΒ = -.397) 3. Unsafe Neighbourhood (expΒ = -.354)

Non-significant Predictors1. Distance2. Short distances between intersections3. Alternative routes from getting place

to place

Independence and reasons for driving

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Never allowed out unsupervised Often or always allowed out withoutsupervision

Safety and Convenience

Convenience

Safety

Change in Driving Habits

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Less Driving

No Change

More Driving

National Hands-Up Survey Results at Pilot Schools

42.5

43

43.5

44

44.5

45

45.5

46

Baseline Final

Active %

Most Effective Activities

Q19: Most Effective STP Activities

Infrastructure improvements

19%

Safety education

24%Special events24%

Special weekly or monthly

8%

Newsletter9%

Walking buddies

7%

Identification of best routes

6% Other3%

Parents who usually drive

0%10%20%30%40%50%

Not

Alo

neSaf

er R

oute

Red

uced

traf

fic

Oth

er

Reasons

Q21&22: I would allow my child to walk/cycle if...

Walk

Cycle

Program ExpansionNew: Manitoba - 3 schools Saskatchewan - 3 schools The Yukon - 3 schoolsExisting: Nova Scotia - 3 + 2 schools Ontario - 3 + 25 schools Alberta - 3 + 3 schools British Columbia - 3 + 6 schools

National School Travel Planning Support STP Toolkit including STP Facilitator

Guidebook, data collection tools, data entry tools, sample forms and documents

STP page on web – www.saferoutestoschool.ca

STP Facilitator training webinars STP Facilitator conference calls STP national meetings STP national newsletter STP measurements collected

Summary Creation of a model STP framework

for Canada Survey results timed to meet funder

deadlines Results collected before

implementation Schools may not achieve higher

rates of active travel initially Groundwork has been set - pilot is

expanding School Travel Plans documented and

approved by stakeholders

Thank You

www.saferoutestoschool.ca/schooltravel.asp