Enhancing Active Transportation Safety for Children: Insights and Future Directions

Overview

Over the past 50 years, children in the United States have become significantly less active. In 1969, nearly 50% of young people walked or biked to school, now that figure has dropped to just over 10%. This alarming decline in physical activity may impact children's physical health, social health, well-being, and autonomy. Further, the American Academy of Pediatrics has declared a child and adolescent mental health crisis — coupled with rising childhood obesity, these emphasize the urgent need to increase children’s physical activity. The pressing question now is: How can we create a safe and vibrant active transportation environment for children in the greater Houston area and across the country?

‘Kids on the Move’

On March 8, 2024, the “Kids on the Move: Enhancing Active Transportation Safety for Children” symposium — hosted by the Baker Institute Child Health Policy Program — brought together experts, policymakers, advocates, and citizens to collaborate and develop actionable strategies to improve active transportation safety for children in the Houston region. Dr. Zoabe Hafeez, a nonresident fellow at the Center for Health and Biosciences and associate professor of pediatrics at UTHealth Houston, led the discussion with an analysis of child pedestrian and bicyclist injury hotspots in the city, identifying the top three high-risk neighborhoods. In his keynote address, Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia emphasized the importance of safe and active transportation for youth. Panelists then explored three key areas: 

1. Health benefits of safe and active transportation.
2. Urgent infrastructure needs in Houston.
3. Effective policy solutions.

Key Insights

1. Decline in Active Transportation — A concerning trend of declining active transportation is leading to health problems like obesity and decreased mental health. Urgent action is needed to reverse this decline.  
    
2. Safety of Sidewalks — Safe sidewalks are identified as a fundamental prerequisite for encouraging parents to allow their children to walk or bike to school. Providing safe infrastructure for active transportation is vital.  
    
3. Funding for Street Safety — Funding does exist to improve infrastructure and enhance safety measures. These available financial resources can be used to support street safety initiatives.  
    
4. Need for Pedestrian and Cyclist Education — Education on pedestrian and cyclist safety is a critical component in promoting active transportation. Equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills to navigate streets safely is essential before promoting walking and biking.  
    
5. Importance of Collaboration — Collaboration between decision-makers and the community is crucial in implementing effective solutions for street safety. A collaborative approach ensures that initiatives are aligned with community needs and priorities, promoting meaningful and sustainable change. Public-private partnerships should be encouraged, with emphasis on evidence-based decision-making.  
    
6. Integration of Health in Design — Health-conscious principles must be integrated into the development of sidewalks and the surrounding environment, with a focus on creating spaces that foster physical activity and enhance overall well-being, particularly for children.

Next Steps and Policy Recommendations

Community leaders, transportation organizations, and other stakeholders have been called to redefine Houston's strategies for promoting active transportation among children — prioritizing safety and comfort in public spaces. Specific recommendations include:

1. Use Data-Driven Approaches — Employ data-driven approaches, such as the Baker Institute's Pediatric Walk Score, to inform the implementation of safer sidewalks and bike lanes, prioritizing areas near schools, community centers, and places with high pedestrian traffic.[1]  
    
2. Teach Safe Practices — Enhance educational programs to teach pedestrians and cyclists safe practices, empowering them to navigate streets confidently.  
    
3. Encourage Collaboration — Support collaboration between community organizations and decision-makers to ensure infrastructure improvements align with community needs and priorities.  
    
4. Provide Resources and Guidance — Provide comprehensive resources and guidance on designing and implementing safer sidewalks and bike lanes, to facilitate community-led initiatives.  
    
5. Mobilize Community Engagement — Mobilize community members to actively engage decision-makers, showcasing the importance of pedestrian safety and the need for infrastructure improvements.

By prioritizing active transportation initiatives through collaborative efforts, stakeholders can lay the groundwork for a healthier, more sustainable urban environment, fostering vibrant communities able to face the challenges of modern life. 

Note

[1] The Baker Institute Child Health Policy Program has developed a tool, the “Pediatric Walk Score,” which was adapted from a validated questionnaire and local-level design guidelines and tailored to Houston area schools to help identify built environment improvements and communicate their impacts on children’s health and safety.

For more detail on Zoabe Hafeez’s analysis of child pedestrian and bicyclist injury hotspots, see the policy brief “Children Walking and Biking: Mapping Houston’s Injury Hotspots” he co-authored with Shruti Natarajan.

This material may be quoted or reproduced without prior permission, provided appropriate credit is given to the author and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The views expressed herein are those of the individual author(s), and do not necessarily represent the views of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.