'Mobilität von Kindern und Jugendlichen: Detailauswertung der Mikrozensen Verkehr 1995 und 2000'
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Walking and Cycling Behaviour of Children, Adolescents and Young Adults in Switzerland: Results from the Travel Survey 2000
Background
Active transport can contribute substantially to health enhancing physical activity. As in other industrialized countries, there is public concern in Switzerland about an increasing number of children being brought to school by car.
Methods
In the National Travel Survey 2000 travel behaviour of 4468 students aged 6 to 20 years was assessed in a telephone interview. Basis for the results presented are the 6737 trips to school accumulated by those 2130 children and young adults who reported at least one trip to school on the day relevant for the interview.
Results
Among the 6-9 year old children 76.8% walk to school, 3.6% use their bicycle, 8.1% are being brought by car, 6% walk and use public transport and 5.4% other forms of combined mobility. The respective numbers for the other age groups are: 10-12 years: 61.6%, 18.7%, 4.6%, 8.4%, 6.7%; 13-15 years: 30.9%, 27.6%, 6.3%, 24.5%, 10.8%; 16-17 years: 18.7%, 20.0%, 9.8%, 32.0%, 19.5%; 18-20 years: 19.6%, 12.0%, 21.5%, 33.8%, 12.9%. In a logistic regression model, determinants for the choice of the different modes of transport were assessed. Short distances up to 1km increased the chance of walking compared to longer distances, while medium distances increased the use of a bicycle. Living in the German part of Switzerland was consistently associated with a higher probability of walking or cycling to school than living in the French part of the country, where on the other hand the chance of being brought by car was higher. With an increasing number of cars in the household the chance of walking to school consistently decreased.
Conclusions
The proportion of trips walked or cycled to school is high. In areas with high levels of walking or cycling to school, this culture must be maintained. In areas with less walking and cycling, there is a potential for improvement.