Greater Toronto & Hamilton Area School Travel Household Attitudinal Study.

Greater Toronto & Hamilton AreaSchool Travel Household Attitudinal Study

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Methodology overview• A total of 1,001 English interviews were conducted with parents and guardians of the

Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA)• Respondents were asked questions about school travel related to their ‘eldest child

attending elementary school’ (i.e. Kindergarten to Grade 8)• The survey was conducted over the course of three weeks, including pretest and

fieldwork (September-October)• Sample was drawn based on Census Division (CD). The table below displays weighted

and unweighted totals and margins of error, by CD

CD POP’N Unweighted TOTAL

Weighted TOTAL

Margin of Error

Hamilton 504,560 251 83 ±6.19

Halton 439,255 75 73 ±11.32

Peel 1,159,405 250 191 ±6.2

Toronto 2,503,285 250 413 ±6.2

York 892,710 100 147 ±9.8

Durham 561,260 75 93 ±11.32

TOTAL 6,060,475 1,001 1,001 ±3.1

• Oversampling was conducted in Hamilton and Peel to ensure adequate representation for analysis

• The final dataset is weighted by the child’s gender and grade, and by CD. Population totals were derived from the 2006 Census

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GTHA School Travel Household Attitudinal Study Objectives

– Examine current school travel mode split, including: • By area, by grade, by distance• Compare to school versus home from school• Look at threshold distance for walking-driving• Determine main reasons for mode choice• Look at parent school travel mode vs child school travel mode

– Profile: Active Travel, Auto Travel, Carpool Travel– Identify school travel-related issues and concerns– Gauge awareness of school travel programs and infrastructure– Identify potential target market for a shift towards sustainable

and active school travel

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Respondent ProfileOverall Hamilton Peel

AGE

18-34 19% 27% 25%

35-44 52% 49% 48%

45-54 22% 16% 20%

55 and over 4% 5% 4%

RELATION TO CHILDREN IN HOUSEHOLD

Parent 94% 94% 93%

Other relative 3% 4% 3%

Older sibling 1% - 3%

Step-parent 1% 1% 1%

EMPLOYMENT STATUS

Employed FT 61% 57% 59%

Employed PT 10% 14% 8%

Not Working 22% 24% 25%

Student 2% 3% 4%

HOUSEHOLD INCOME (CAD)

Less than 35 thousand 11% 13% 10%

35 to 65 thousand 19% 17% 24%

65 to 95 thousand 17% 23% 21%

95 to 125 thousand 14% 18% 10%

Over 125 thousand 17% 10% 13%

Overall Hamilton Peel

GENDER

Male 38% 31% 34%

Female 62% 69% 66%

LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME

English 82% 94% 76%

French 4% 3% 4%

Chinese (Mand. or Canton.) 4% - 2%

Urdu 3% 1% 8%

Panjabi/Punjabi 2% - 10%

Other 21% 12% 24%

TIME SPENT WALKING DAILY

15 minutes or less 18% 15% 19%

16 to 30 minutes 35% 31% 39%

31 to 60 minutes 29% 26% 26%

More than 1 hour 12% 26% 14%

Mean (minutes) 48.8 72.8 51.8

# OF CHILDREN IN HOUSEHOLD ATTENDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

One 59% 60% 58%

Two 33% 31% 34%

Three or more 8% 8% 8%

Mean (children) 1.5 1.5 1.5

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Transportation ProfileELDEST CHILD ATTENDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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Q1E. How does your child usually travel to school?Q1F. How does your child usually travel home from school?

Q1E. Base: All respondents (N=1,001); Q1F. Base: All respondents (N=1,001)

Mode of travel to and from school

2% 3%1% 1%1% 1%

37%

21%

34%

2%4%

40%

21%

29%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Driven Carpool School Bus Public Transit Walking Cycling Other

To school Home from school

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Q1E/Q1F. How does your child usually travel to and home from school?

Q1E. Base: All respondents (N=1,001), ~9% (N=87); Q1F. Base: All respondents (N=1,001), ~9% (N=87)

Differing modes of travel to and from school

• Nine percent of respondents’ children travelled to and from school by different modes. We find a few patterns within this group:

Modes of travel %

Driven to school, walk home 44.0%

Driven to school, ride school bus home 10.7%

Driven to school, ride public transit home 10.2%

Ride school bus to school, driven home 7.1%

Walk to school, driven home 6.1%

Other (collapsed due to sample size; e.g. school bus to school, walk home)

21.8%

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Q1E. How does your child usually travel to school?

Q1E. Base: All respondents (N=1,001)

Mode of school travel – by grade

46%

28% 30%35%

44%33% 34%

23%

1%

1% 1%

4%1% 2%

5%

16%

34%20%

23%21%

25% 22%

18%

1%

2%

1% 1%

12%

35% 34%43%

36% 34%34% 37% 36%

4%2%

28%36%

2%

19%13%

9%

39%47%

1%1% 1%1% 2%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

K4 K5 Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8

Driven Carpool School bus Public transit Walk Bike

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Q1F. How does your child usually travel home from school?

Q1F. Base: All respondents (N=1,001)

Mode of travel home from school – by grade

39%

24% 23%

34% 38% 35%28%

19%

1%

2% 1%

4%

3%

3%

19%

32%

20%

21% 22% 25%24%

18%

1%

2%

4%

13%

40%33%

50%

39% 36% 34% 37%40%

4%2%

38%

16%

3%

12%

20%

13%

1%2%

45% 44%

2%1% 1%1%1%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

K4 K5 Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8

Driven Carpool School bus Public transit Walk Bike

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Q1E/Q1F. Base: All respondents (N=1,001)

Mode of school travel – by distance to school

29%

21%

18%

43%

36%

40%

36%

2%

3%

2%

1%

21%

21%

19%

20%

41%

41%

3%

1%

2%

8%

10%

37%

40%

76%

78%

28%

32%

7%

9%

1%

1%

1%

3%

3%

34%

3%

2%

1%

1%

4%

1%To school

Home from school

To school

Home from school

To school

Home from school

To school

Home from school

Driven Carpool School bus Public transit Walk Bicycle

Overall

Live within 1 km of child’s school

Live between 1 and 2 km of child’s school

Live more than 2 km from child’s school

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Walking to school – threshold distance

28%

76%

7%

9%

78%

32%

96%

63%

17%21%

40%43%

18%

36%36%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

<1km 1-2km >2km

Walks to school Walks home from school Close enough to walk Driven to school Driven home from school

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Mode of school travel – by area

29%

30%

29%

35%

29%

2%

3%

3%

21%

21%

31%

31%

26%

27%

3%

4%

2%

3%

37%

40%

33%

33%

32%

35%

34% 2%

2%

2%

1%

1%

1%

1%1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

1%

To school

Home from school

To school

Home from school

To school

Home from school

Driven Carpool School bus Public transit Walk Bicycle Other


Overall

Peel

Hamilton

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Main reason for mode choice

PREFERRED NO OTHER OPTIONS

CONCERNS ABOUT OTHER METHODS

DRIVEN TO SCHOOL BY A HOUSEHOLD

MEMBER

42% 38% 24%

RIDING THE SCHOOL BUS 44% 47% 8%

ACTIVE METHOD (walking or

cycling)73% 20% 3%

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Correlation between parent’s mode of school travel and child’s mode of school travel

DRIVEN TO SCHOOL

RIDING THE SCHOOL BUS or PUBLIC TRANSIT

ACTIVE METHOD (walking or cycling)

DRIVEN TO SCHOOL 55% 28% 38%

RIDING THE SCHOOL BUS or PUBLIC

TRANSIT23% 37% 20%

ACTIVE METHOD (walking or cycling) 22% 35% 42%

Parent’s Mode

Child’sMode

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Transportation Profile: ACTIVE MODESELDEST CHILD ATTENDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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Q1E3/Q1F3. Does your child travel to/ from school with other school-aged children?Q1E3A/Q1F3A. Is this as part of a group organized by the school or community?

Q1E3/Q1E3A. Base: Respondents whose child walks or bikes to school (N=384)Q1F3/Q1F3A. Base: Respondents whose child walks or bikes home from school (N=401)

Travel with other children

54%

62%

60%

53%

50%

7%

2%

3%

6%

7%

39%

38%

35%

36%

40%

41%

1%

1%

1%

53% 6%

1%

To school

Home from school

To school

Home from school

To school

Home from school

Yes - but not in an organized group Yes - in an organized group No Don't know/Refused

Overall

Peel

Hamilton

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Q1E3. Does your child travel to school with other school-aged children?Q1E7. Is your child accompanied by an adult when they walk/bike to school?

Q1E3/Q1E7. Base: Respondents whose child walks or bikes to school (N=384)

Active travel with adults and children

49%

48%

20%

65%

48%

20%

6%

21%

4%

2%

27%

56%

6%

1%

5%

19%

31%

38% 35%Total

Kindergarten

Grades 1-3

Grades 4-6

Grades 7 & 8

With an adult and child(ren) With an adult but no children With child(ren) but no adult Neither

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Profile: “Active Travellers”

OVERALL ACTIVE TRAVELLERS (N=417)

DISTANCE TO SCHOOL

<1KM 33% 63%

1-2KM 27% 23%

>2KM 32% 7%

DRIVERS & CARS IN HOUSEHOLD

None 2% 4%

One driver 16% 20%

Two+ drivers; one car 23% 23%

Two+ drivers & two+ cars 59% 53%

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

<$35K 11% 13%

$35K to $65K 19% 19%

$65K to $95K 17% 21%

$95K to $125K 14% 14%

>$125K 17% 14%

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Q18. Is your child's school close enough that they could reasonably walk to school on a regular basis?

Child’s school within walking distance

63%

17%

32%

80%

3%

1%

5%

3%

96%

58%

3%

39%Total

<1KM

1-2KM

>2KM

Yes No Somewhat

Q18. Base: All respondents (N=984)

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Q21A. There are safe bike routes or paths around the school.

Active and safe routes to school

65% 14%

2%

4%

15%

5%

24%

8%

3%

4%

27% 29%

Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't know

Q21A. Base: Respondents whose child’s school is close enough for them to reasonably walk or bike (N=680)

Q21D. I have discussed how to walk or bike to school safely with my child.

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Q21H. It is important to me that my child gets exercise while travelling to and from school.

Importance of exercise & environment

70% 18%

7%

5%

11%

4%

12% 1%47% 21%

2%

2%

Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't know

Q21H/I. Base: All respondents (N=984)

Q21I. It is important to me that my child gets to and from school in an environment-friendly way.

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Transportation Profile: DRIVENELDEST CHILD ATTENDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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Q1E2/Q1F2. When the adult drives your child to/from school, is this part of a commute to/from work, a commute to/from another destination, or is the main purpose of the trip to drop off/pick up

your child at school?

Q1E2. Base: Respondents whose child is driven to school (N=314)Q1F2. Base: Respondents whose child is driven home from school (N=277)

Purpose of adult’s trip

35%

45%

39%

37%

32%

6%

1%

3%

3%

1%

56%

57%

52%

55%

58%

64%

1%

2%

3%

2%

2%

41% 2%

2%

To school

Home from school

To school

Home from school

To school

Home from school

Commute to/from work Other commute Trip to drop off/pick up child Don't know/Refused

Overall

Peel

Hamilton

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Profile: “Auto Travellers”

OVERALL AUTO TRAVELLERS (N=329)

DISTANCE TO SCHOOL

<1KM 33% 20%

1-2KM 27% 33%

>2KM 32% 37%


None 2% 0%

One driver 16% 9%

Two or more drivers; one car 23% 19%

Two or more drivers & two or more cars 59% 71%

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

<$35K 11% 6%

$35K to $65K 19% 15%

$65K to $95K 17% 18%

$95K to $125K 14% 18%

>$125K 17% 22%

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Transportation Profile: CARPOOLINGELDEST CHILD ATTENDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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Q14. Are there times that you participate in a carpool for school travel with neighbours or friends?

Participation in carpools

3%

14%

20%

79%

86%

77%

2% 19%Total

Hamilton

Peel

Yes - currently Yes - other times No

Q14. Base: All respondents (N=984)

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Q21E. A list of nearby parents who would like to carpool would be useful to me.

Interest in a carpool list

28%

7%

5%

15%

10%

12%

7%

3%

2%48%

37% 25%Total

Respondents who considerCarpooling to be an appealing

alternate mode of travel (N=179)

Strongly agree Somewhat agree Neither agree nor disagreeSomewhat disagree Strongly disagree Don't know

Q21E. Base: Respondents whose child is driven to school by a member of their household, and would be comfortable with them participating in a carpool (N=244)

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Profile: Potential Carpoolers

OVERALL INTERESTED IN CARPOOLING (N=179)

DISTANCE TO SCHOOL

<1KM 33% 18%

1-2KM 27% 33%

>2KM 32% 42%


None 2% 0%

One driver 16% 6%



HOUSEHOLD INCOME

<$35K 11% 3%

$35K to $65K 19% 17%

$65K to $95K 17% 23%

$95K to $125K 14% 17%

>$125K 17% 25%

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Interest in Alternative ModesELDEST CHILD ATTENDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

30

Q21G. I'm interested in considering alternatives to the way that my child currently travels.

Interest in considering alternatives

9%

16%

23%

15%

15%

7%

6%

8%

6%

16%

16%

18%

16%

41%

33%

47%

46%

3%

3%

2%

2%

19%

16% 17%Total

Drive

School Bus

Walk or Bike


Q21G. Base: All respondents (N=984)

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School Travel Issues and ConcernsELDEST CHILD ATTENDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

32

Neighbourhood safety

55% 23%

3%

2%

17%

11%

23%

7%

1%20% 36%

2%


Q21A. Base: Respondents whose child’s school is close enough for them to reasonably walk or bike (N=680)

Q21B. People drive safely enough in my neighbourhood.

Q21C. I worry about strangers or bullies approaching my child if they travel alone.

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Program AwarenessRESPONDENT/HOUSEHOLD

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Q22. Are you aware of any programs in your area designed to promote walking, biking or carpooling for school travel?

Awareness of programs

9%

96%

89%

2%

1%

2%

4%

11% 87%Total

Hamilton

Peel

Yes No Don't know/Refused

Q22. Base: All respondents (N=1,001)

35

Q23. Have you heard of each of the following programs?

Awareness of Specific Programs

28%36%

14%

22%20%22%

11%9%

6%

66%71%

62%

86%87%86%

77%80%77%

88%90%

93%

1%

1%

1%

2%

1%

2%1%

1%1%

2%

11%12%

31%Total

Hamilton

Peel

Total

Hamilton

Peel

Total

Hamilton

Peel

Total

Hamilton

Peel

Yes (unaided) Yes (aided) No Don't know/Refused


International Walk to School Day or Month (iWalk)

Walking or Cycling School Bus

Carpool Zone

CAN-BIKE

36

School Travel Infrastructure and ProgramsELDEST CHILD ATTENDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

37

Q24. Does your child's school offer…School Travel Infrastructure

86%

79%61%

91%

67%68%68%

57%52%55%

18%36%

27%28%27%

30%35%29%

2%1%1%

2%3%3%

6%4%5%

13%13%

16%

90%

88%

6%

9%13%10%Total

Hamilton

Peel

Total

Hamilton

Peel

Total

Hamilton

Peel

Total

Hamilton

Peel



Sidewalks leading to the school entrance

Crossing guards and marked crossings at the school

Bicycle parking

A student drop off area for automobiles

38

Q24. Does your child's school offer…School Travel Programs

24%

29%39%

27%

15%9%14%

6%4%8%

50%44%

47%43%

51%

64%69%

66%

76%80%

79%

28%26%26%

23%18%

22%

21%22%21%

18%17%13%

29%

30% 42%Total

Hamilton

Peel

Total

Hamilton

Peel

Total

Hamilton

Peel

Total

Hamilton

Peel



Walking safety education, special events or programs

Cycling safety education, special events or programs

Maps of the best or safest routes to school

A carpool matching service or list

39

Key target marketsELDEST CHILD ATTENDING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

40

Profile: “Close Drivers”

OVERALL CLOSE DRIVERS (N=160)

DISTANCE TO SCHOOL

<1KM 33% 39%

1-2KM 27% 41%

>2KM 32% 14%


None 2% 0%

One driver 16% 10%



HOUSEHOLD INCOME

<$35K 11% 8%

$35K to $65K 19% 16%

$65K to $95K 17% 20%

$95K to $125K 14% 17%

>$125K 17% 17%

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Those who do not use available school bus service

OVERALL THOSE WHO DO NOT USE AVAILABLE SCHOOL BUS SERVICE (N=88)

DISTANCE TO SCHOOL

<1KM 33% 14%

1-2KM 27% 33%

>2KM 32% 47%


None 2% 0%

One driver 16% 5%



HOUSEHOLD INCOME

<$35K 11% 4%

$35K to $65K 19% 12%

$65K to $95K 17% 17%

$95K to $125K 14% 17%

>$125K 17% 32%

42

Convenience and Appeal of Alternate modes

CARPOOL SCHOOL BUS

PUBLIC TRANIST

WALK OR BIKE WITH

PARENT

WALK OR BIKE WITH

GROUP

WALK OR BIKE

ALONE

CONVENIENCE 66% 66% 24% 50% 78% 71%

APPEAL 73% 64% 26% 62% 76% 88%

CHILD’S INTEREST 69% 70% 25% 66% 64% 50%

CONVENENT AND APPEALING 59% 53% 16% 31% 55% 56%

COLUMN ‘N’ 239 70 117 131 131 37

Base: Respondents whose child is driven to or home from school & for whom the alternate method is available

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Final Study Report to be available at: www.metrolinx.com/schooltravel

Jennifer LaySchool-based TDM Coordinator, Metrolinx

[email protected]

http://www.metrolinx.com/schooltravel

mailto:[email protected]

Greater Toronto & Hamilton Area School Travel Household Attitudinal Study.

Documents

mode of school travel

active school travel

mode of travel

active travel

school threshold distance

auto travel

ride school bus home10

differing modes of travel