Perceptions of the built environment and its effects on active school transportation in Michigan

One of the longest-standing federal programs promoting Active School Transportation (AST) is the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. In Michigan, this program is funded by the Michigan Department of Transportation and administered by the Michigan Fitness Foundation. This paper assesses the various perceptions affecting AST. First, we look at the SRTS program in Michigan, assessing the differences in perceptions of parents and students regarding walking and biking to/from school. Second, we look at the difference in perceptions between parents living in rural and urban areas regarding the preferred mode of transport to school and the perceived challenges to using active transportation to and from school. Lastly, we look at what other built environment characteristics are associated with the use and perceptions on AST. Using primary data and statistical analyses such as Chi-Squared tests, linear and logistic regressions, we found various associations with AST and discuss the potential policy implications to understand and address the perceived barriers to using it.