Children's independent mobility to school, friends and leisure activities

Abstract

Increased use of the car in the everyday transport of children can lead to environmental problems, and cause increased obesity and decreased independence among children. Using a structural equation model we investigate the influence of a range of background variables on mode choice for Norwegian children's transport to school or leisure activities. Distance to school and children's age were the most influential variables on children's independent mobility, measured as an index. Objective descriptors of the traffic environment only explain independent mobility via parents' safety experience. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.