Preferences and Determinants of Active Travel to School: A Case Study of Dehradun City, India

In Indian cities, the dynamic interplay between motorized and nonmotorized transport (NMT) has significant implications for urban development. Reliance on motorized transport often results in challenges like vehicular congestion, while increasing the use of NMT offers various advantages for urban mobility. The current study assesses the state of active travel to school (ATS) in Dehradun city, the capital of Uttarakhand state in India. To understand the factors influencing the use of ATS, a statistical study was conducted in four local schools, both public and private, in the city. Results from the survey were used to draw conclusions about the factors that affect the choice of ATS. The study showed that income was a major determinant of NMT use, as less socioeconomically well-off children studying in public schools are more likely to use NMT. Moreover, the study showed that male students are more willing to shift to NMT use than female students, as safety concerns are a major issue that affects the choice of ATS among females. Thus, the present study provides first-hand data from a holistic study on ATS in a nonmetropolitan city in India and suggests that cultural issues (psychological), like more safety concerns for females and status in society, along with education vis-à-vis income of parents and gender of students (socioeconomic), are the primary determinants rather than those of built environment for choice of ATS.