Only 13 Percent of Children Walked or Biked to School in 2001, a Dramatic Decrease From 41 Percent in 1969

By: Colby DC

This decline in active transportation to school is partially linked to increased average distance to school and may contribute to the rising childhood obesity epidemic.

What researchers found: While 40.7 percent of students walked or biked to school in 1969, only 12.9 percent did so by 2001. Distance to school increased during that time. Nevertheless, even among those students living close to school, fewer walked or biked to school. Minority students were twice as likely to walk to school as whites across the survey years.

Why we chose this publication: Walking or biking to school offers children an opportunity to engage in physical activity, which in turn can combat childhood obesity. The decline of active transportation challenges policy-makers to develop new ways to encourage walking and biking to school.

What researchers studied: The authors analyzed data from the National Personal Transportation Survey (1969, 1977, 1983, 1990, 1995, 2001), conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation, to examine the influence of environmental, child, and household characteristics on children's active commutes to school.

Publication information:
“Active Transportation to School: Trends Among U.S. Schoolchildren, 1969-2001”
McDonald NC
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 32(6): 509-516, June 2007