Perceived challenges and facilitators of active travel following implementation of the School Travel-Plan programme in New Zealand children and adolescents

Promoting active travel modes has the potential to improve health outcomes, enhance social capital, and reduce traffic related congestion whilst also providing economic benefits. With this focus in mind, Auckland׳s transport agency developed a series of School Travel Plan (STP) initiatives in Auckland schools as part of the Travel Wise for Schools programme. The initiative incorporated educational and promotional campaigns to promote carpooling and active transport, combined with the Walking School Bus, cycle training for students, parking restrictions, building of traffic calming measures, and improvement of roads and footpaths. The aim of the present study was to explore the perceived challenges and facilitators of active travel to and from school following implementation of the STP Programme through qualitative feedback from children and adolescents. Focus groups consisting of 4-6 children and 6-12 adolescents were conducted in 10 primary schools and three high schools respectively. The challenges and facilitators for children and adolescents focused primarily on intrapersonal, and interpersonal factors. The themes emerged were similar but for different contexts. Under the child factors category five main themes emerged: peers, enjoyment, safety, parent behaviour and health and fitness. The main themes for adolescents were: peers/enjoyment, driving licence, safety and health & engagement. Overall, children and adolescents preferred active modes from passive ones, understood the benefits of active travel and provided valuable suggestions which formed the basis of future plan implementation.