IN-PERSON: Livable Cities – New York
Abstract
Introduction: Having a walkable built environment is important to encourage active school transport in both primary and secondary schoolchildren. However, the walkability of all schools has not been assessed in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the walkability of all schools (primary, secondary and K-12, government and non-government) across metropolitan Perth and assess differences in walkability by school type and socioeconomic status (SES). Methods: Geographic Information Systems technology was used to measure traffic exposure and pedestrian connectivity surrounding all schools (n=651) in metropolitan Perth in 2022. These measures were combined to create a school walkability index. Walkability index scores were compared using one-way ANOVAs with post-hoc comparisons by school type (primary, secondary and K-12; government and non-government) and school socioeconomic status (SES). Results: A large proportion of Perth schools (73.8%) were below the Western Australian Planning Commission’s target for a walkable catchment area. Although traffic exposure surrounding schools was low overall, non-government secondary schools had significantly higher traffic exposure ratio scores (mean 0.80) compared with non-government primary schools (mean 0.52, P<.001) and government secondary schools (mean 0.49, P<.001). Neighbourhoods surrounding high SES schools (mean 12.4) were significantly more walkable than medium SES (mean 10.5, P<.001) and low SES (mean 10.1, P<.001) schools. Conclusions: This study found a large proportion of Perth schools are surrounded by street networks that are disconnected, reducing the potential for more children to walk or cycle to school. The results highlight the importance of modifying the built environment to increase opportunities for children to use an active form of transport to school, particularly in low SES areas.
Anna is a PhD Candidate working with the Western Australian Department of Transport to evaluate urban design factors supporting active transportation and perceptions about active school transport in Perth, Western Australia. Anna completed her master’s in Environmental Psychology from the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis at Cornell University. Her research interests include how built and natural environments affect children’s mental, social, and physical well-being. She is passionate about creating healthier, more resilient community spaces through user research and innovation.
Dr Julie Saunders is a senior lecturer at UWA School of Population and Global Health. Dr. Saunders lectures in population health, health promotion and research methods at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and is the Deputy Head of School (Education). Dr. Saunders conducts research in the areas of physical activity parenting, health promotion and evaluation, and public health.
Dr Hooper is a Healthway Research Fellow and Co-Director of the Australian Urban Design Research Centre (AUDRC) within the School of Design at UWA. Dr. Hooper had a decade of experience investigating the role of the urban and built environments on a physical, social and mental health and well-being outcomes. She is also highly skilled in spatial analytics and the use of geographic information systems and the development of measurement methods of urban design features.
Dr Trapp is an ARC DECRA Fellow at the University of Western Australia and the Telethon Kids Institute. She has over 13 years of research experience leading CIA Category-1 funded projects spanning nutrition, physical activity, obesity and food environments. She brings specialised expertise in active school transport and the impact of the built environment on child health. She is highly skilled in quantitative research methods, child and school-based research.
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Thursday 15th June, 2023