141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

292415
Evaluation of ten California safe routes to school non-infrastructure (SRTS NI) grantees on changing mode of travel to and from school


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Celina Chan, Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Swati Pande, MS, Safe Transportation Research & Education Center, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Jill Cooper, MSW, University of California, Berkeley Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, Berkeley, CA
Victoria Custodio, MPH, Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Resource Center, California Department of Public Health, California Active Communities, Sacramento, CA
John Bigham, MPH, Safe Transportation Research & Education Center, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Lisa Cirill, MS, PAPHS, California Department of Public Health, California Active Communities, Sacramento, CA
David R. Ragland, PhD, MPH, Safe Transportation Research & Education Center (SafeTREC), University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Background: Today, fewer children than ever walk or bike to school. California SRTS programs aim to increase the number of K-8 children and families who safely walk or bike to school with the goals of reducing rates of childhood obesity, improving air quality, increasing daily physical activity and improving social cohesion. SRTS NI programs use encouragement, education and enforcement activities to make walking and biking to school more appealing.

Objective: Assess effectiveness of California SRTS NI program by examining characteristics of 10 K-8 schools funded in Federal Cycle 3

Methods: Analysis focused on ten schools that differ in geographics and demographics. Mode shift was assessed by analyzing pre and post parent survey data. Telephone interviews were conducted with SRTS program coordinators to understand program successes, barriers, and parents' perceived safety towards walking/biking to school. Environmental diagnosis of land use around schools was conducted to evaluate the potential for active transportation. Effect of programs on safety was analyzed by calculating pre and post pedestrian and bicycle collision rates around schools.

Results: Telephone interviews will reveal factors that enable or hinder the successful implementation of program activities. Evaluation results will reveal the extent of mode shift and whether positive improvements in parental perceived safety of walking and biking to school resulted from the programs.

Conclusion: SRTS NI funding provides opportunities to promote physical activity through increased outreach and education efforts as well as by engaging community stakeholders. This evaluation compares program implementation strategies and impacts on mode shift across California.

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Discuss reasons for choosing the case study approach for evaluating SRTS NI grantees in California Identify successes from the implementation of the SRTS NI program, especially as it relates to pedestrian safety and physical activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have experience conducting research and evaluation of community-based programs.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 2032.0: Transportation safety