THE NATIONAL CENTER for Safe Routes to School released the results of a study that concluded more K-8 students are walking and biking to school. The 43 page study, titled “Trends in Walking and Bicycling to School from 2007 to 2012” was published in October 2013.

The study explored school travel trends at 4,691 schools located in all 50 states and D.C. using responses from 525,493 completed surveys and school-level data maintained by the National Center for Education Statistics. Findings are quite positive for walking to school and provide encouragement for those who have been working to increase safe walking to school.

Results also highlight noteworthy patterns among walking, bicycling, riding a bus, and being driven the school, as well as parents’ perceptions of active school travel between 2007 and 2012.

Walking to and from school increased significantly between 2007 and 2012, from 12.4 percent to 15.7 percent in the morning, and from 15.8 percent to 19.7 percent in the afternoon. It especially increased among students who attended low-income schools located in cities. Boys and girls were equally likely to walk to and from school over the study period.

As walking increased, busing to and from school decreased significantly between 2007 and 2012 (from 32.9 to 27 percent in the morning and from 38.4 to 31.9 percent in the afternoon). Within one mile of school, the largest shift between travel modes occurred between busing and walking, with busing decreasing significantly and walking increasing significantly.

High-income schools documented higher school bus ridership than low- and medium-income schools.

Within one mile of school, the largest shift between travel modes occurred between busing and walking, with busing decreasing significantly and walking increasing significantly. Perhaps not surprisingly, distance from school was the strongest predictor of walking and bicycling, with significantly less walking and bicycling occurring the farther students lived from school.

Unlike walking, bicycling to and from school decreased slightly but significantly between 2007 and 2012 (from 2.6 to 2.2 percent in the morning and afternoon). Students attending high-income schools located in cities were the most likely to bicycle to/from school. Older students were more likely to bicycle than younger students, and boys were twice as likely to ride a bicycle to/from school as were girls.

Compared with walking—which under the right conditions can be done almost immediately and with relative ease—bicycling requires the acquisition of equipment and training in order to carry out. That is, children who wish to bicycle to and from school must have access to a bicycle and helmet, must know how to ride, and must maintain the bicycle (e.g., by keeping a safe tire pressure and adjusting brakes).

Despite this study’s documented decrease in bicycling, there are reasons to believe that children and families are gaining interest: the first-ever National Bike to School Day event was held in May of 2012 with participation from 950 schools in 49 states and D.C.—by the following year, participation grew 80 percent to 1,705 schools in all 50 states and D.C.

Key findings from the analyses include:

• Walking to and from school increased significantly between 2007 and 2012. From 12.4% to 15.7% in the morning; and from 15.8% to 19.7% in the afternoon.
• Although walking increased among students who attended low-, medium- and high income schools, walking increased especially among students who attended low-income schools (defined as enrolling 75% of students who were eligible to receive free or reduced price meals).
• Boys and girls were equally likely to walk to/from school.
• There was a small but significant decrease in bicycling to school between 2007 and 2012, from 2.6% to 2.2% in both the morning and afternoon.
• Boys were twice as likely to ride a bicycle to/from school as were girls.
• Busing decreased significantly between 2007 and 2012. Within one mile of school, the largest shift between travel modes occurred between busing and walking, with busing decreasing significantly and walking increasing significantly.
• Between 2007 and 2012, the percentage of parents who stated that their child’s schoolsupported walking and bicycling between home and school increased from 24.9 to 33 percent.

Parents’ beliefs about walking and bicycling to/from school changed during the study period. The percentage of parents who stated that their child’s school supported walking and bicycling as a school travel mode increased significantly from 24.9 to 33 percent from 2007 through 2012.

Generally positive parental attitudes were associated with both walking and bicycling to/from school, walking was most closely associated with perceived school support,  whereas bicycling was most closely associated with perceived enjoyment (i.e., fun).