Children's travel to school across income groups

The modes of children travel to and from school are poorly understood by urban planners and transportation policymakers in all parts of the world and especially in developing countries. Children like adults need transportation, particularly for their travel to school. In recent decade, one of the most difficult things for many parents is allowing their children to walk to school on their own. Concurrently, for many parents driving their children or walking with them to and from school every day may not be feasible. Therefore, walking autonomously to and from school not only is a cheap travel mode and source of physical activity for children, but also it can decrease the number of household daily trips if accessibility, safety and the social benefits of the experience is addressed. A fundamental question that must be answered is: What environmental barriers, both urban and non-urban form, have an impact on the children s trip to school? This understanding is required in order to develop an effective policy aimed at increasing the number of children walking to and from school on their own.