Walkability and Parental Safety Perceptions as Determinants of Children's School Commutes: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Walking is the oldest, most affordable, and environmentally healthy mode of transport. Its importance is widely recognised in the scientific and political fields, with active school travel being a consensual target goal. Children's active school travel promotes physical activity, independence, and social interaction. Additionally, it contributes to mitigating traffic congestion, reducing air pollution, and enhancing societal well-being. Despite these positive effects, children's commuting patterns and outdoor activities are becoming more restricted due to the continuous growth of motorised traffic and car-oriented urban environment conditions. As a result, school walkability indexes are emerging in literature, although few consider parental safety perceptions. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the existing evidence, examining and summarising quantitative and qualitative studies on school walkability and the impact of parental barriers on children walking to school. The updated information provided in this review highlights the link between the urban environment, parental fear of traffic, and children's school travel behaviour. Using the PRISMA method and a series of in-depth interviews, we developed a comprehensive walkability model. The literature review highlights the importance of geographical differences and social and environmental diversities, requiring different solutions to promoting active commuting to school. Distance and quality of infrastructure are critical factors, but not exclusive. Our interview results suggest that social norms, parents' fear of car traffic, and educational background can influence the results. This study offers insights into perceived walkability, particularly regarding school walkability in a Portuguese context.