Families, children and car: the environmental cost of chauffeuring children
Files
(Published version)
Date
2018
Authors
Gilbert, H.
Allan, A.
Pieters, J.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Conference paper
Citation
Australasian Transport Research Forum Papers, 2018, pp.1-18
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Australasian Transport Research Forum 2018 (30 Oct 2018 : Darwin, Australia)
Abstract
Parenting responsibilities in the context of children’s mobility have been subject to a substantial change over the last few decades. Children’s current activities and travel patterns are significantly different to the previous generations when they were at the same age.Today’s children are exposed to increased car use and are chauffeured for the majority of their trips. A range of social and environmental factors have contributed to the formation of these travel patterns which include the changing societal perceptions of safety (traffic and stranger danger), easy access to cars, increased income levels, higher employment rates for women, increased number of trips children undertake due to contemporary lifestyles and the built environment conditions that privilege private car usage over other travel modes. Social issues associated with reduced independent mobility of children have been highlighted by previous research. However, the environmental cost of these lifestyles have been researched to a lesser degree. Based on the preliminary findings of an ongoing major research project,this paper delves further into the environmental cost of ‘parental taxis’ through examination of 53 parental surveys regarding travel patterns to and from extra-curricular activities. The paper aims to produce an evidence base surrounding the environmental cost of the parental car dependent lifestyles of today’s children and their families. The findings exhibit a large number of round trips (both during the week and on the weekend) to educational destinations other than school for 10 to 13 year old children. These figures highlight the significant potential for carbon emission reduction through the conversion of some of these trips to non car modes.
School/Discipline
Dissertation Note
Provenance
Description
Access Status
Rights
Copyright 2018 The author(s)