Aims. This study aimed to test the acceptability, perceptions and short-term impacts of a wayfinding intervention to increase active travel among primary school children. Methods. This study used a non-randomised, controlled, before and after design in four intervention and two control schools within Oxfordshire. The intervention was designed with input from parents and students and informed by a COM-B behavioural analysis. It included implementing interactive footpath markings and route features, along walking and cycling routes, and designating car parking locations near school to facilitate walking the last part of the journey. A mixed-methods approach investigated school travel mode, frequency of active school travel, and knowledge and perceptions of the wayfinding routes. The primary outcome, change in proportion of children who use active school travel after implementation, was captured by online parent survey. Results. Of 181 survey respondents, active school travel increased from 76% pre-intervention to 81% post-intervention across intervention school respondents and decreased from 71% to 70% among control school respondents. There was no significant difference between intervention and control schools. Accounting for distance to school and active travel at baseline, parents from intervention schools were significantly more likely to report active travel post-intervention compared to those from control schools (OR 2.69 p=0.080). Parents, staff and pupils reported the wayfinding intervention had enhanced their existing experience of active school travel, though road safety concerns limited independent use by primary school children. Conclusions. Wayfinding routes have potential to increase rates, and enhance enjoyment of, active school travel and active travel but are likely to be insufficient alone to create significant modal shift and may have greater impact if implemented alongside other interventions which encourage active travel. As a place-based intervention they may have additional benefits by encouraging activity along the routes outside of school travel.
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Payne Riches, SarahSpencer, Ben Jones, Tim Clay, MikeBush, TonyImage, IsabellaRowe, Rosie
School of the Built Environment
Year of publication: [not yet published]Date of RADAR deposit: 2024-01-16