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71
When encountered traffic barriers were compared between the children who walked
to and/or from school on most days (‘active’ travelers) and those who walked
occasionally or were normally driven (‘passive’ travelers), higher rates were reported
by active travelers on most of the traffic barriers. Although it is not surprising when
children who walk more, are likely to be more exposed to traffic environments
(either friendly or unfriendly), none of the reported traffic barriers were found
significantly different between the two groups. There was a high level of agreement
between the two travel groups in the ranking of encountered traffic barriers
(Spearman’s r =.78, p<.01).
When asked about the things that made walking to or from school unsafe, the
children most frequently selected ‘fast moving car’ as the top risk factor, followed by
‘many strangers’ (Table 5.8). To these inner city children, social dangers, by and
large, were perceived more as risks for walking than traffic dangers. Immediately
following the top two in the list, factors such as dogs without leash, homeless, and
graffiti ranked high, while most of factors related to traffic dangers ranked relatively
low at the bottom. When examined between the two travel groups (active vs.
passive), a similar trend was observed with a high level of agreement regarding the
ranking of perceived risks (Spearman’s r = .76. p<.01).
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 81 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Full text | 71 When encountered traffic barriers were compared between the children who walked to and/or from school on most days (‘active’ travelers) and those who walked occasionally or were normally driven (‘passive’ travelers), higher rates were reported by active travelers on most of the traffic barriers. Although it is not surprising when children who walk more, are likely to be more exposed to traffic environments (either friendly or unfriendly), none of the reported traffic barriers were found significantly different between the two groups. There was a high level of agreement between the two travel groups in the ranking of encountered traffic barriers (Spearman’s r =.78, p<.01). When asked about the things that made walking to or from school unsafe, the children most frequently selected ‘fast moving car’ as the top risk factor, followed by ‘many strangers’ (Table 5.8). To these inner city children, social dangers, by and large, were perceived more as risks for walking than traffic dangers. Immediately following the top two in the list, factors such as dogs without leash, homeless, and graffiti ranked high, while most of factors related to traffic dangers ranked relatively low at the bottom. When examined between the two travel groups (active vs. passive), a similar trend was observed with a high level of agreement regarding the ranking of perceived risks (Spearman’s r = .76. p<.01). |
