Free-range children : parental barriers and gateways for children’s active and independent mobility in Malta

Abstract

This study investigates children’s active and independent mobility. Using school travel as an indicator, the factors influencing transport mode choice are analysed in the context of the Maltese Islands where the majority of children are driven to the primary school in their locality despite the proximity. In this scenario, there thus exists the potential for active transport where an understanding of the major determinants to mode choice can target a shift in the currently unsustainable transport to school. The role of the parents is central to this research due to the age of the subjects and this is studied to explore the influence parents have on children’s transport mode and outdoor autonomy and the factors which in turn have an influence on parental choices. Taking a parent-centred approach in the collection of data, parents of children in Year 1 – Year 6 of the State Primary School of San Lawrenz (Gozo), Siġġiewi and St Paul’s Bay were invited to complete a survey collecting information on their child’s mobility patterns and outdoor autonomy where the choice of localities is based on their contrasting geography, demographic, socio-economic and cultural factors with the results highlighting the diversity and differing parental concerns. Through the factors identified from this research, it is evident that interventions need to be designed with significant focus on addressing parental concerns of safety, security, and time. This study makes a contribution to research in the area of children’s mobility where children as transport users are under-researched in the local context and addresses the challenges of child obesity and transport emissions. Through a better understanding of the barriers and gateways to children’s active transport and outdoor autonomy, this study aims to provide a background for informed guidance to policy and planning decisions in shifting school travel from driving to active modes of transport and more ambitiously to independent walking or cycling.