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43
built environment on walking, in their model, was far weaker than other control
variables such as personal and household attributes as well as other exogenous
factors (i.e., topography, slope, weather, etc.). In a study of Austin neighborhoods,
Handy (1996) found that shorter distances to destinations with quality pedestrian
environment that may ensure sense of comfort and safety as well as perceived
accessibility were associated with increased walking. A number of studies have
confirmed that access or route directedness to local amenities is a strong predictor of
walking (e.g., Handy et al., 2005; Krizek & Johnson, 2006; Lund, 2003; Moudon et
al., 1997; Shriver, 1997). It was also supported by Schlossberg and others (2006)
who found that children whose routes had higher intersection densities and lower
dead-end densities were more likely to walk. Counterintuitive to this general finding,
Timperio and others (2006) found that a direct route or connectivity to school was
associated with less walking among children aged 10 to 12, suggesting that
children’s travel might be more influenced by traffic safety concerns, different from
adults’ value for reducing travel time.
Pedestrian infrastructure and amenities (e.g., sidewalk continuity and
maintenance, street crossings, street lights, etc.) and streetscapes that are safe,
attractive and inviting are also likely to encourage walking. In a study that examined
the influence of density, diversity, and design on travel demand, Cervero and
Kockelman (1996) found that a factor associated with walking quality (i.e., sidewalk,
street light, planted strips, block length, and flat terrain) was a strong predictor of
walking, biking or transit use. Moudon and others (1997) found that completeness
Object Description
| Title | Walkability as 'freedom': the ecology of school journey in inner city Los Angeles neighborhoods |
| Author | Uhm, Jung A |
| Author email | uhm@usc.edu; j_uhm@hotmail.com |
| Degree | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Document type | Dissertation |
| Degree program | planning |
| School | School of Policy, Planning, and Development |
| Date defended/completed | 2008-06-05 |
| Date submitted | 2008 |
| Restricted until | Unrestricted |
| Date published | 2008-10-17 |
| Advisor (committee chair) | Banerjee, Tridib |
| Advisor (committee member) |
Irazabal, Clara Stoner, Madeleine |
| Abstract | Over the past two decades, rising concerns over childhood obesity and its health effects have brought the issue of "walkability" to the forefront in creating a child friendly environment. Particularly, the idea of promoting children walking to and from school has gained widespread support among policy makers, public health officials, civic organizations, and planners as a way to increase physical activity among children to prevent obesity. Recent policies and programs however are based on an assumption about the direct influence of the built environment on school travel mode, of which parents' values and perceptions are considered prominent in determining environmental attributes related to children walking to school.; This research proposes a conceptual framework in understanding the relationship between the environment and children's travel by adding a crucial link generally missing in current walkability research - children. By proposing the notion of walkability as freedom, this study attempts to draw attentions to children's choices and real opportunities and factors that either facilitate or prohibit children in or from actualizing what they value (walking to school as one of many). With this goal, this research explored the elements of a walkable environment through the eyes of ethnic minority children attending five elementary schools in inner city Los Angeles.; Through the triangulation of capability approach, child-centered participatory methods, and ecological perspectives, the findings demonstrate children's capacity not only to observe and understand the environment, but also to evaluate and reflect on making their neighborhood environment safer and walkable on their own terms.; This research suggests a shift in policy focus from the provision and improvement of environmental resources to the enhancement of individual freedom by increasing children's participatory capability. The results of this study advance the discussion on the relationship between active school travel and the environment by bringing children into the foreground within the spheres of ecological transaction. |
| Keyword | capability; children; inner-city neighborhood; perception; school travel; walkability |
| Geographic subject | educational facilities: Foshay Learning Center; educational facilities: Norwood Street Elementary School; educational facilities: St. Agnes Parish School; educational facilities: Vermont Avenue Elementary School; educational facilities: Lenicia B. Weemes Elementary School |
| Geographic subject (city or populated place) | Los Angeles |
| Geographic subject (state) | California |
| Coverage date | circa 2008 |
| Language | English |
| Part of collection | University of Southern California dissertations and theses |
| Publisher (of the original version) | University of Southern California |
| Place of publication (of the original version) | Los Angeles, California |
| Publisher (of the digital version) | University of Southern California. Libraries |
| Provenance | Electronically uploaded by the author |
| Type | texts |
| Legacy record ID | usctheses-m1671 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Rights | Uhm, Jung A |
| Repository name | Libraries, University of Southern California |
| Repository address | Los Angeles, California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Filename | etd-Uhm-2224 |
| Archival file | uscthesesreloadpub_Volume29/etd-Uhm-2224.pdf |
Description
| Title | Page 53 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Full text | 43 built environment on walking, in their model, was far weaker than other control variables such as personal and household attributes as well as other exogenous factors (i.e., topography, slope, weather, etc.). In a study of Austin neighborhoods, Handy (1996) found that shorter distances to destinations with quality pedestrian environment that may ensure sense of comfort and safety as well as perceived accessibility were associated with increased walking. A number of studies have confirmed that access or route directedness to local amenities is a strong predictor of walking (e.g., Handy et al., 2005; Krizek & Johnson, 2006; Lund, 2003; Moudon et al., 1997; Shriver, 1997). It was also supported by Schlossberg and others (2006) who found that children whose routes had higher intersection densities and lower dead-end densities were more likely to walk. Counterintuitive to this general finding, Timperio and others (2006) found that a direct route or connectivity to school was associated with less walking among children aged 10 to 12, suggesting that children’s travel might be more influenced by traffic safety concerns, different from adults’ value for reducing travel time. Pedestrian infrastructure and amenities (e.g., sidewalk continuity and maintenance, street crossings, street lights, etc.) and streetscapes that are safe, attractive and inviting are also likely to encourage walking. In a study that examined the influence of density, diversity, and design on travel demand, Cervero and Kockelman (1996) found that a factor associated with walking quality (i.e., sidewalk, street light, planted strips, block length, and flat terrain) was a strong predictor of walking, biking or transit use. Moudon and others (1997) found that completeness |
