This study was based in 2 towns in England, Northstowe (Cambridgeshire) and Darlington (Durham). Both towns were selected as demonstrator sites as part of NHS England Healthy New Towns programme in 2015 exploring how the development of new places could provide an opportunity for healthier and connected communities. Both towns have received investment and made environmental changes to promote walking and cycling. This provided an opportunity to assess and compare the experiences of children travelling to and from school in these different contexts.
The aim of the study was to understand how families decide how children travel to school. This included looking at how the environment on the way to school affects travel. The information collected during this study will give us a better understanding of how people make decisions about school travel. This could help to ensure that future environmental and transport policy takes account of people’s needs and make walking and cycling to school easier for families.
The study was led by Durham University, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge. The University of Cambridge lead the data collection at Northstowe. We were also working closely with the University of Bristol. The study was funded by a grant from the National Institute for Health Research School for Public Health Research.
