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80
on the all traffic barriers, except in the case of sidewalk presence (Table 5.15).23
Crossing a heavily trafficked road was most reported and concerned barrier both by
children (26.6%) and by parents (35.6%). Especially, a higher proportion of parents
who normally drove their child to school reported this as a likely barrier if their child
were to walk (45% vs. 19%), compared to those who did not, X2 (1, N=59) =3.89,
p<.05. A higher rate was also reported by parents who normally drove their child
from school on ‘fast moving cars’ (33% vs.10%) than their counterparts, X2 (1,
N=59) =4.57, p<.05.
Table 5.15 Parent Perceived vs. Child Encountered Traffic Barriers (in percentage)
Parents Children
Traffic barriers YES YES
Cross a road with more than 4 lanes of traffic 35.8 26.6
Walk through unsafe areas or by buildings or activities that
are undesirable (i.e., underpass, dark alley, parking lot or
vacant lot, etc.)
33.9 18.8
Cross a road where there is no stop sign or street signals 32.2 21.3
Walk on the road or cross a road where cars are moving fast 22.0 19.1
Walk on the road because there is no sidewalk 1.7 7.4
While parents perceived that walking through unsafe or undesirable areas would be
the second most likely barrier, it appeared to be less likely experienced by children.
However, it is partly due to the wording such as ‘unsafe’ or ‘undesirable’ in the
parent’s questionnaire prompts a broader reflection on possible barriers that would
23 Items asked to children and to parents slightly varied (see Table 5.5). For example, parent survey
did not include questions about crossing guards and driveways and question about unsafe or
undesirable areas in the parent survey was specified into separate questions (i.e., walk through n
underpass, a parking lot, or an alley) in the survey for children to make it more clear for children to
answer.
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 90 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Full text | 80 on the all traffic barriers, except in the case of sidewalk presence (Table 5.15).23 Crossing a heavily trafficked road was most reported and concerned barrier both by children (26.6%) and by parents (35.6%). Especially, a higher proportion of parents who normally drove their child to school reported this as a likely barrier if their child were to walk (45% vs. 19%), compared to those who did not, X2 (1, N=59) =3.89, p<.05. A higher rate was also reported by parents who normally drove their child from school on ‘fast moving cars’ (33% vs.10%) than their counterparts, X2 (1, N=59) =4.57, p<.05. Table 5.15 Parent Perceived vs. Child Encountered Traffic Barriers (in percentage) Parents Children Traffic barriers YES YES Cross a road with more than 4 lanes of traffic 35.8 26.6 Walk through unsafe areas or by buildings or activities that are undesirable (i.e., underpass, dark alley, parking lot or vacant lot, etc.) 33.9 18.8 Cross a road where there is no stop sign or street signals 32.2 21.3 Walk on the road or cross a road where cars are moving fast 22.0 19.1 Walk on the road because there is no sidewalk 1.7 7.4 While parents perceived that walking through unsafe or undesirable areas would be the second most likely barrier, it appeared to be less likely experienced by children. However, it is partly due to the wording such as ‘unsafe’ or ‘undesirable’ in the parent’s questionnaire prompts a broader reflection on possible barriers that would 23 Items asked to children and to parents slightly varied (see Table 5.5). For example, parent survey did not include questions about crossing guards and driveways and question about unsafe or undesirable areas in the parent survey was specified into separate questions (i.e., walk through n underpass, a parking lot, or an alley) in the survey for children to make it more clear for children to answer. |
