SCHOOLTRAVEL IN THE GTHA

A Report on Trends

2

contents Introduction | 3 Travel Trends | 4 Age | 6 Gender | 8 Distance | 11 Time of Day | 12 Conclusions | 14 References | 15

This report examines travel trends in active school travel (AST) across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). The GTHA is comprised of the cities of Toronto and Hamilton and the regions of Durham, Halton, Peel, and York. For more detailed trends, refer to the regional reports for each of these jurisdictions.

acknowledgments Metrolinx would like to thank the contributors

who collaborated on the creation of these reports:

Professor Ron Buliung, University of Toronto Mississauga Michele Colley, University of Toronto Mississauga

Jennifer McGowan, Smart Commute, Metrolinx Brianna Salmon, infographics development and design

Joint Program in Transportation, University of Toronto Smart Commute staff, Metrolinx

And all the families and households across the GTHA who shared their

time and their data with us.

REPORT ON TRENDS 2 Published December, 2015

All regional and GTHA reports from this series can be found at smartcommute.ca

introduction Active school travel (AST), such as walking or cycling to school, provides a consistent form of daily physical activity that contributes to healthier lifestyles for children and youth. In addition to the health benefits of physical activity, an increase in AST in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) could produce long-term planning benefits that help meet the goals set forth by Metrolinx’s Regional Transportation Plan, The Big Move. The Big Move envisions that 60% of children will walk or cycle to school and that 20% of work trips will be taken by active modes of transportation by 2031.1

According to the 2011 Census of Canada, there are more than 1.4 million children and youth under the age of 18 residing within the GTHA.2 By 2031, these children and youth will be adult commuters who may make travel decisions based partly on the travel experiences accumulated in childhood. Establishing higher levels of active transportation in childhood may translate into more sustainable transport decisions later in life.

This report illustrates changes in school transportation in the GTHA from 1986 to 2011. Data were obtained from the Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS), a cross-sectional travel survey conducted every

2011 five years since 1986 in the City of Toronto and the surrounding region. Past research using the GTHA

POPULATION TTS in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) indicated that there was a period of decline in AST from MALES FEMALES 1986-2006 for 11-15 year olds.3 Findings0-4 yrs

suggested that the greatest decline in walking 5-9 yrs

and cycling was in the 1980s and 1990s and that10-14 yrs

the decline in AST had reached a plateau by 2006. This report provides an update to previous work and includes the region of Hamilton, which yrs15-19 was absent from the previous study, and data 20-24 yrs

from 2011.25-29 yrs

yrs30-34 Although it seemed like AST across the GTHA yrs35-39 had reached its lowest possible level by 2006, 40-44 yrs

walking and cycling mode share has continued to 45-49 yrs

decline into 2011. This report also looks at50-54 yrs

differences in AST by age, gender, time of day, yrs55-59 and by city or regional municipality (i.e. Toronto, yrs60-64 Durham, Halton, Hamilton, Peel, and York). 65-69 yrs

70-74 yrs

75-79 yrs

80-84 yrs

85+ yrs

11-1314-17

yrs

yrs 37,159182,094 125,967 119,151

170,577

32011 Census, Statistics Canada

GTHA

introduction

travel trends Note on age categories: Since the TTS begins collecting data at age 11, throughout this report, 11-13 year olds are used to describe elementary school students and 14-17 year olds are used to refer to secondary school students.

Local and GTHA School Trips by Mode** 1986 to 2011 | males and females | a.m. and p.m.

11 -

13 y

ears

14 -

17 y

ears

11 -

13 y

ears

14 -

17 y

ears

WALK GTHA

AUTOCYCLE TRANSIT

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • TO SCHOOL • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • FROM SCHOOL • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

AG

E

YEA

R SCHOOL BUS

40.4% 37.5% 37.8% 39.4%

36.7%

57.5% 50.4%

49.2% 49.2%

45.6%

36.4% 31.7% 30.9% 30.5%

28.0%

55.5% 47.3%

44.7% 42.4%

39.0%

1.8% 1.3% 0.8% 1.0%

1.0% 0.9% 1.1% 1.2%

1.8% 1.3% 0.8% 1.0%

1.0% 0.9% 1.2% 1.3%

8.8%

5.3% 4.8% 4.5%

9.8% 7.9% 6.5%

5.7% 5.7%

29.9% 25.7%

21.3% 20.3% 21.6%

31.0% 30.3%

25.9% 24.9% 26.4%

6.6% 21.2%

23.7% 23.4% 24.3%

21.3% 24.4% 26.0% 24.7% 25.7%

15.6% 13.2% 14.5% 14.6% 13.7%

15.6% 13.9% 15.6% 15.9% 14.6%

22.7%

10.7% 17.0% 19.3% 18.3% 20.6%

7.8% 15.2% 16.8% 19.3% 21.7%

16.0% 28.1%

32.1% 33.1% 35.1%

11.6% 21.4% 24.8% 28.4% 30.8%2011

2011

1986199620012006

2011

1986199620012006

1986199620012006

19861996200120062011

* The cycling data for 1986 is not statisticaly reliable

4 REPORT ON TRENDS

** Due to space considerations, the “other” category has been omitted from this graph. For all years, the ‘other’ category ranges between 0 to 1.2% of responses.

Shifts in Mode over Time (%) | 1986 and 2011 males and females | 11 - 17 yrs

1986 2011 TO SCHOOL

2.4% 1.1%

44.1% 32.5%

S C H O O L

H O M E

17.9% 14.6% 18.1%

14.2% 33.3%

OTHER 0.2% 0.4%

FROM SCHOOL

2.4% 1.2%

47.6% 40.4%

21.2%

9.5% 21.1%

17.7%22.0%

18.1% 19.6%

OTHER 0.0%0.4%

5GTHA

Metrolinx would like to thank the contributorswho collaborated on the creation of these reports:

Professor Ron Buliung, University of Toronto Mississauga Michele Colley, University of Toronto Mississauga

Jennifer McGowan, Smart Commute, Metrolinx Brianna Salmon, infographics development and design

Joint Program in Transportation, University of Toronto Smart Commute staff, Metrolinx

And all the families and households across the GTHA who shared their

time and their data with us.

REPORT ON TRENDS

0 - 10% 11 - 20% 21 - 30% 31 - 40%

age

1986

AGE: 11 - 13 yrs • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

10%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

8%14%

9%

11%

7%

2011 25%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

24%30%

30%

25%

20%

1986 11%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

17%18%

16%

16%

11%

2011 20%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

31%38%

32%

34%

21%

AGE: 14 - 17 yrs • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Daily Auto School Trips

6 * Car or similar vehicle (e.g., mini-van)

Daily Auto* School Trips | 1986 and 2011 males and females | a.m. and p.m.

Note on age categories: Since the TTS begins collecting data at age 11, throughout this report, 11-13 year olds are used to describe elementary school students and 14-17 year olds are used to refer to secondary school students.

GTHA

1986 62%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

59%45%

64%

55%

60%

2011 48%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

43%40%

41%

42%

41%

1986 38%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

40%29%

46%

48%

44%

2011 33%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

37%30%

35%

34%

33%

AGE: 11 - 13 yrs • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

AGE: 14 - 17 yrs • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

0 - 15% 16 - 30% 31 - 45% 46 - 60% 61- 75%

Daily Walk and Bike School Trips

7

HIGHER FOR YOUTH AGED 11-13 yrs

WHILE RATES OF ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL ARE STILL

THEY ARE DECREASING AT A

FASTER RATE

Daily Walking and Biking School Trips 1986 and 2011 | males and females a.m. and p.m.

THAN FOR YOUTH 14 - 17yrs

REPORT ON TRENDS

gender

8

0 - 10% 11 - 20% 21 - 30% 31 - 40%

1986

MALES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

11%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

11%15%

12%

11%

8%

2011 20%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

26%32%

28%

29%

19%

1986 10%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

15%18%

13%

16%

11%

2011 24%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

30%37%

35%

31%

22%

FEMALES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Daily Auto School Trips

* Car or similar vehicle (e.g., mini-van)

Daily Auto* School Trips 1986 and 2011 | 11 - 17 yrs | a.m. and p.m.

Note on gender: Gender was categorized by male or female as self-reported by the individual or by the member of the household who completed the survey on behalf of the household. The gender recorded may therefore not reflect the gender that the child identifies with.

GTHA 9

1986 50%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

50%39%

57%

52%

52%

2011 41%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

43%36%

41%

39%

37%

1986 46%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

47%34%

51%

49%

50%

2011 37%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

36%32%

33%

35%

34%

MALES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

FEMALES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

0 - 35% 36 - 40% 41 - 45% 46 - 50% 51 - 60%

Daily Walk and Bike School Trips

MALES ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL THAN FEMALES

Daily Walking and Biking School Trips 1986 and 2011 | 11 - 17 yrs | a.m. and p.m.

>

43.6% 34.3%

40.8% 29.9%

1.6% 2.2%

0.4% 0.2%

4.6% 23.8%

5.6% 24.0%

25.1% 25.1%

27.7% 31.3%

AGE: 14 - 17 yrs

AGE: 11 - 13 yrs

24.7% 14.1%

25.3% 14.2%

= 5%

= MALES = FEMALES

ONE

Travel Mode* Shares 2011 | a.m. and p.m.

2011

* Due to space considerations, the “other” category has been omitted from this graph. For 2011, the ‘other’ category ranges between 0.2 to 0.4% of responses.

REPORT ON TRENDS 10

distance Tolerance to Distance | 1986 and 2011 males and females | 11 - 17 yrs | a.m. and p.m. Research indicates that distance is a major factor influencing mode of transportation to school. Unsurprisingly, children living further afield are less likely to walk to and from school. 4-6 While the location of schools and homes relative to one another has changed little over time, more children are being driven over shorter distances than ever before.

1986 more children walk to school | fewer are driven

TRAVEL DISTANCE STAYS THE SAME

2011 fewer children | more children are drivenwalk to school

GTHA 11

REPORT ON TRENDS 12

time of day

0 - 30% 31 - 35% 36 - 40% 41 - 45%

a.m.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

36%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

34%30%

33%

33%

34%

p.m. 42%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

45%38%

42%

42%

38%

a.m. 28%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

7%7%

7%

3%

11%

p.m. 33%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

8%11%

10%

5%

12%

TRANSIT • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Walking and Biking Trips

0 - 5% 6 - 10% 11 - 15% 16 - 35%

Transit Trips

Trip Mode | 2011 | 11 - 17 yrs | males and females

GTHA 13

a.m. 8%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

24%21%

22%

26%

31%

p.m. 8%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

24%23%

23%

30%

33%

a.m. 28%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

34%41%

38%

38%

24%

p.m. 16%

Hamilton

Halton

Peel

Toronto

York Durham

22%27%

25%

22%

17%

SCHOOL BUS • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

AUTO* • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

0 - 10% 11 - 20% 21 - 30% 31 - 40%

School Bus Trips

0 - 20% 21 - 30% 31 - 40% 41 - 50%

Auto Trips

am<pmActive Transportation use is

greater in the afternoon

* Car or similar vehicle (e.g., mini-van)

10 REPORT ON TRENDS

conclusions • For 11 to 17 year olds, active transportation to school (i.e. walking and cycling) has decreased from

1986-2011 while regional automobile mode share has more than doubled during this time period.

• Children ages 11-13 years are more likely to use active modes than 14-17 year olds, but walking levels have declined more rapidly for 11-13 year olds than 14-17 year olds.

• Boys are more likely to engage in active transportation (walking or cycling) to and from school than girls, particularly in the afternoon period.

• Girls are more likely to be driven to school than boys, especially during secondary school years.

• AST mode share is higher in the afternoon period than in the morning period, as is public transit use. This raises the question: what can we do to help students walk, bike, or take transit in the morning?

• There is greater public transit use in the City of Toronto than in the outer suburbs and Hamilton and there is greater school bus and automobile use in the outer suburbs than in the City of Toronto.

• The observed increase in automobile use has implications for the health of children, as it limits physical activity participation and increases the risk of child vehicle occupant and pedestrian injury.

• Differences in age, gender, identity, mobilities, and abilities must be considered when addressing changes in AST.

14

references 1 Metrolinx (2008) The Big Move: Transforming Transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Greater

Toronto Transportation Authority. 2 Statistics Canada (2011) Age and Sex for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions,

Census Subdivisions and Dissemination Areas, 2011 Census. Statistics Canada: Ottawa. 3 Buliung, R. N., Mitra, R., and Faulkner, G. (2009) Active school transportation in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada:

An exploration of trends in space and time (1986-2006). Preventive Medicine, 48, 507-512. 4 Schlossberg, M., Greene, J., Phillips, P.P., Johnson, B., and Parker, B. (2006) School trips: Effects of urban form

and distance on travel mode. Journal of the American Planning Association, 72, 337-346. 5 Larsen, K, Buliung, R.N, and Faulkner, G.E.J. (2013) Safety and school travel: How does the environment along

the route relate to safety and mode choice? Transportation Research Record, Vol.2327, 2013, pp. 9-18. 6 Larsen, K, Gilliland, J., Hess, P.M., Tucker, P., Irwin, J., and He, M. (2009) Identifying influences of physical

environments and socio-demographic characteristics on a child's mode of travel to and from school. American Journal of Public Health, 99, 520-526.

GTHA 15

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