Roaming the city: children's independent mobility across urban neighborhoods in Taiwan

This study investigates the factors influencing Children's Independent Mobility (CIM) in urban Taiwan, focusing on two contrasting neighborhoods in Taoyuan City: the Central Business District (CBD) and the Rear Station Residential District (RRD). A questionnaire survey was administered to 412 parent–child pairs (children aged 8–13), assessing CIM through six daily activities. Objective environmental data, including pedestrian sidewalk ratio, road junction density, and land use characteristics, were mapped using GIS within a 600-meter buffer around each respondent’s residence. Factor analysis was employed to extract eight facets of parental perception of the neighborhood environment. Regression analysis revealed that children's school, grade level, proximity to main roads, weekend school activities, parental satisfaction with school, and perceived walking safety significantly predicted CIM in the full sample. In the CBD, children's age and indoor activity preference were key predictors, while in the RRD, school affiliation and perceptions of safety and harassment were most influential. Results show CIM is lower in the CBD due to environmental complexity and lower parental trust, despite better infrastructure. This study highlights that a simplified neighborhood environment and improved perceived safety are essential for enhancing CIM in high-density Asian urban contexts.