Highlights We examine influence of urbanization degree in children’s independent mobility. Decrease of children’s independent mobility accompanies urbanization increase. Stranger danger and low sense of community are more frequent in parents from the city. Traffic fear is the most frequent parental concern for children’s safety. Shift from a motorized to a walkable city is argued to promote children’s autonomy.
Abstract This study is aimed to evaluate the impact of urbanization in children’s independent mobility in Portugal. Mobility licenses, actual mobility, fear of traffic, stranger danger and sense of community were compared in highly, moderately and non urbanized environments and according to gender. Results showed that increase of urbanization leads to a decrease of children’s licenses to independently cross and cycle main roads; go out after dark and go to places other than school. The rising of urbanization leads to an increase of children’s mean age for independent active travel; and at the same time a decrease of independent active school-home travel and leisure time activities. Parental fear regarding traffic is the most frequent cause for concern regarding children’s safety when they are outdoors. Stranger danger and low sense of community are more prevalent in parents from the highly-urbanized environment. Overall, girls enjoy less actual mobility than boys. The discussion shows that children’s freedom of movement in the highly-urbanized setting is very restricted due to a pervasive automobile dependence, proposing a shift from a motorized to a walkable city.
Children’s independent mobility in Portugal: effects of urbanization degree and motorized modes of travel
Journal of Transport Geography ; 41 ; 210-219
2014-01-01
10 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
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