Building Active Journeys: Creating Spaces to Support Children’s Mobility

This policy brief tackles the challenge of declining active travel rates, particularly among school children, as seen in cities like Newcastle upon Tyne, where walking and cycling remains a less preferred option. The brief referenced the research of Michail and Torun (2024), which highlights urban design factors, such as narrow sidewalks and unsafe crossings, as key barriers to active travel, further exacerbated by the poorer infrastructure conditions in lower-income areas. Findings reveal that children prefer safer, greener routes with wider footpaths and fewer traffic hazards while avoiding high-traffic streets and poorly maintained areas.