West Valley: Why Don’t Children Walk Or Bike To School Anymore?Sarah Boylan Jackson Higgins Aldo Ortega Morgan Spadone

Literature Review

Literature Review•Perception pertains mostly to parents and whether they feel their children are safe enough to walk or bike alone or with a group to school (Napier, Brown, Werner, Gallimore, 2011)

•The more people are driving or being driven, the less physical activity they are engaging in (Napier, Brown, Werner, Gallimore, 2011).

•There are four key factors that can add the walkability of a neighborhood: density, design, distance, and diversity. When there is access to different kinds of locations and transportation options within a short distance, people are more likely to walk, bike, or use alternative modes of transportation (Su, Jerrett, McConnell, Berhane, Dunton, 2013; Woldeamanuel 2016)

Gap• There was a lack of information provided about los angeles, specifically the

San Fernando Valley which is the location studied.

• Effects of sprawl on the walking and bicycling infrastructure.

Methodology

ObservationsObserving front and side gate of the schools, we were able to estimate the mode choice of students and parents.

• during two day period, after school

● Qualitative (Lit Review + Observations)● Quantitative (Survey + GIS + Walk Score)

Research DesignOur research focuses on the walking and biking behaviors of students from kindergarten to the 12th grade and how the built environment as well as care culture affects their mode choices.

Parent Surveys

• 50 participants. 10 parents were surveyed from school.

• Surveys filled out in paper form. No identifying questions were asked of the parent.

GIS• Observed walking and biking infrastructure on Google Maps to give a score

to each road within a .25 mile buffer zone• 2/good: “Paved leveled sidewalk no surface obstacles, without or without

ADA-compliant ramps at the end of the block.” (Woldeamanuel, 2016).• 1/fair: “Paved sidewalk, which has obstacles such as large cracks or

elevations that can cause a person to trip or fall.” (Woldeamanuel, 2016). • 0/Bad: “Non paved sidewalk, sloping, uneven dirt or grass.” or that only

one side of the street has a paved sidewalk. (Woldeamanuel, 2016).

• The information will be shown in the colors of green for good, orange for fair, and red for bad walking quality.

Results And Findings From Parent Surveys And GIS Data

Data From West Valley Schools: Convenience

⅓

median travel time

inconsistent with Q3-4

inconsistent with Q3-4

median distance

median age

Mode Choice To and From West Valley Schools

46% of students are MULTIMODAL. 38% of students are MULTIMODAL.

41% average… WHY?

There are too many cars on the road, and they are out of control!

ComparisonHamlin Elementary andCanoga Park Elementary

20% vs. 50%

Reason: Distance

Comparison Canoga Park ElementaryandCanoga Park Senior High School

50% vs. 60%

Reason: Age/Grade

Hamlin Elementary

School

Canoga Park Elementary

School

Columbus Middle School

Hale Charter

Academy

Canoga Park Senior High

School

Walking IndexWalk Index Good Roads IndexHale Charter School: 40.30Columbus Middle School: 38.77Hamlin Elementary School: 37.44Canoga Park High School: 11.73Canoga Park Elementary: 8.97

Total: 137.21

Fair Roads IndexCanoga Park High: .92Hamlin Elementary School: .76

Total: 1.68

Total Miles: 17.53 Good: 13.45 MilesFair: .33 MilesBad: 3.75 Miles

Analysis

Analysis of West Valley Schools• Hamlin is the antithesis of multimodal.

• Students use personal transportation • Students live outside the buffer zone

• Canoga Park High School and Canoga Park Elementary School are multi modal schools• Age difference separates the two• Both have low quality bike/walk paths

The Paradox

Recommendations

Recommendations • Creation of walking and biking groups

• Working with PTA to group children by neighborhood and find parents and children who are willing to walk and bike to and from school.

• Encourage healthier lifestyles and teach road safety

• Request city to repave school sidewalks that are considered fair/bad• Canoga Park High School and Canoga Park Elementary School

• Request city to add bike lanes around schools

• Cross guards• Reduce congestion• Get children safely across intersections

Conclusion

• Our research offered insight on the walking and biking infrastructures around schools as

well as parents perceptions and their transportation choices.

• This was vital to understanding why children do not bike or walk to school anymore.

• We were able to observe and identify obstacles children and parents face with the biking

and walking infrastructure and offer recommendations in order to improve the streets as

well as overall health of students.

• With our recommendations and the active participation of students, parents, faculty, and

teachers we can potentially get children back on their bikes, back in their walking shoes,

and hitting the pavements to get to school.

Conclusion

Questions? Comments?