Re-investigating Perth’s school walkability: A 15-year perspective

The TRavel, Environment and Kids (TREK) Study: 15 years on project, conducted the University of Western Australia has been completed. This work was undertaken to identify opportunities for increasing active school transport (AST) in Perth, Western Australia. A copy of the project’s final report is available for download below.

Background

Walking or cycling to school has appreciable health, economic and environmental benefits, and yet fewer Australian children walk or bike to school than ever before.

In 2007, TREK study findings helped establish some of the barriers to AST participation for primary school children and their parents in Perth. For this work, researchers conducted a follow-up study into AST in Perth and included secondary school data to expand on earlier findings to compare and evaluate current attitudes into AST.

The overall aim of the project was to create an evidence base to inform targeted interventions to increase walking and riding by primary and secondary Perth school students.

Objectives

• Review international evidence on AST interventions and their effectiveness.
• Assess the walkability of the immediate environment surrounding Perth schools and the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) and school type.
• Investigate current prevalence, latent demand, barriers, enablers and attitudes in relation to AST.
• Investigate changes in above factors since 2007.
• Propose behavioural and infrastructure-based interventions to increase AST.

Methodology

A literature search was conducted to find relevant articles detailing AST interventions and their effectiveness. Article titles and abstracts were first independently reviewed by the research team, with relevant articles then selected for further evaluation. The review articles were required to meet the following criteria:

1. a focus on AST interventions;
2. inclusion of at least one outcome measure. Sixty-nine internationally peer reviewed articles were selected for inclusion, with benchmark data also extracted from these articles (e.g. location and sample size).

Walkability within a 2km radius of schools was calculated in relation to pedestrian connectivity and road traffic exposure and each school assigned a walkability score. Schools were classified by socioeconomic status and type (i.e. government, non-government, primary, secondary).

A series of online surveys were conducted to understand current factors affecting AST and compared with the 2007 survey results to determine changing trends. Surveys were conducted amongst primary and secondary school students, parents/carers and principals.

Key findings

The literature review found that program-based (e.g. curriculum-based, walking school buses) and promotional (e.g. awareness campaigns, special event days) interventions, were the most commonly identified, followed by physical (e.g. traffic calming, shared paths) and preparation (e.g. Safe Routes to School). Curriculum-based interventions were most commonly reported interventions, followed by awareness campaigns. 64% of the identified interventions were reported as having been effective at increasing AST, walking, cycling or physical activity.

The walkability assessment showed that almost three quarters of schools, particularly those with low and medium SES, were located in neighbourhoods with disconnected street networks, resulting in low pedestrian connectivity and walkability. This reduces the potential for more children to walk or cycle to school.

Nearly one third of schools had connectivity ratios just below the WAPC’s (WA Planning Commission) target ratio, showing that even minor connectivity improvements could benefit school neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods surrounding higher SES schools were significantly more walkable than low or medium SES schools. No significant differences in walkability scores were found when comparing school type.

Overall, the results highlight the importance of modifying the built environment in order to increase opportunities for children use an active form of transport to school. Increasing the connectivity of streets surrounding schools is important to maximise the number of children who have the potential to walk to school. However, this needs to be combined with siting future schools away from busy roads to reduce traffic exposure as well as reducing traffic speeds.

Results of the 2007 and 2023 surveys offer comprehensive insights into the travel behaviours and safety perceptions of primary and secondary school students and their parents. In 2007, primary school students predominantly travelled by car despite living close to school. Safety concerns were high among both students and parents, with fears of traffic and stranger danger. While most parents believed their children could travel independently by foot or bike, the actual willingness to let them do so was much lower, reflecting a gap between confidence and actual practice.

These patterns persisted in 2023, but with even higher car usage among primary school students. Safety concerns remained a major issue, partly mitigated by the widespread use of mobile phones among students, enhancing perceived safety. Secondary school data mirrored these concerns about traffic and personal safety. Parents’ fears about their children’s safety along the journey to school remained substantial across both time points and educational levels, influencing the demand for improved infrastructure such as safer crossings and dedicated paths.

Overall conclusion

Perth continues to have low AST participation rates and the work done here highlights the dynamic interplay between individual, social and environmental factors.

This remains an important area of continuing study and action for future planning, safety interventions and the adaptation of the built environment to increase AST participation.

Expected project impacts

Informed by the research findings, the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure’s Active Transport Branch has published an article outlining five opportunities for action to boost walking, riding and scooting to school, including:

• connectivity and built environment improvements
• support infrastructure improvements with complimentary behaviour change initiatives
• guidance on auditing walkability and determining infrastructure solutions to support local government.
• communication campaigns
• trial ‘big ideas’ that help shift public perception and norms around active travel

The Department is continuing to deliver the Your Move Schools program to support walking and riding to schools. The Department is also managing a pilot project to improve safe routes to schools through infrastructure changes. Several government agencies are working together through the Active Travel to School Roadmap to enable more students to walk and ride.

Download the report

Download your copy of the final report, The TRavel Environment and Kids (TREK) Study…15 years on, by clicking the button below.