H

ov do cliIdron viov lloir vorId` Wlal loIps llom

connocl vill lloir onvironmonl and communily`
Or, porlaps moro imporlanlIy, vlal gols in lloir
vay` Tloso aro quoslions llal nood lo bo addrossod vlon
vorIing lo maIo sclooIs and noiglborloods safo and
accossibIo for cliIdron. Discussions of Safo Roulos lo SclooI
programs usuaIIy focus on llo plysicaI aclivily and safoly
bonohls for cliIdron. Bul safo and IivabIo noiglborlood
slrools, vill adoqualo faciIilios for vaIIing, bicycIing and
lrafhc caIming, can aIso loIp cliIdron dovoIop a posilivo
and loIislic viov of lloir communilios.
1 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
Sc|c cn! |itc||c
ncig||cr|cc!
sirccis |c|p c|i|!rcn
!ctc|cp pcsiiitc cn!
|c|isiic ticus c|
i|cir ccmmuniiics.
P|cic. Dcn 8ur!cn
IIVABIL STRLLTS
IOR SCHOOICHIIDRLN
Hcu Sc|c Rcuics ic Sc|cc| prcgrcms ccn imprctc sircci
cn! ccmmunii |itc|i|ii |cr c|i|!rcn
8Y 8RUC| S. APPI|YARD, MCP, A|CP
Tlis arlicIo oxaminos lov mapping oxorcisos vill sclooIcliIdron can rovoaI llo
inuonco of lravoI condilions on porcoplions of llo noiglborlood onvironmonl. Tlis, in
lurn, can loIp communilios idonlify, priorilizo, and gonoralo supporl for improvomonls
llal viII maIo llo roulos Ioading lo sclooI safo and inviling for vaIIors and bicycIisls.
Tlis rosoarcl furllor domonslralos lov oxposuro lo loavy lrafhc nogalivoIy affocls
cliIdron's porcoplions of lloir onvironmonl, and lov inslaIIing podoslrian and bicycIo
improvomonls can quicIIy improvo lloso porcoplions. Tlis slifl in porcoplions may nol
onIy oncourago moro plysicaI aclivily, bul can aIso slrongllon llo connoclion bolvoon
cliIdron and lloir communilios. In sum, safo sclooI-aroa slrools for vaIIing and
bicycIing improvo a noiglborlood's IivabiIily from a cliId's vanlago poinl.
CliIdron aro liglIy dopondonl on cars (and lloir drivors
1
) for mobiIily, and, al llo
samo limo, lloy aro al llo groalosl risI from llo llroals posod by spooding lrafhc.
2,3
IooI boll vays and vail for llo cars boforo you cross llo slrool!, paronls viII inslrucl
lloir cliIdron. If a road is busy vill spooding lrafhc and las no sidovaIIs and/or
biIo Ianos, paronls viII IiIoIy loII lloir Iids lo avoid il aIlogollor. Tlo undorIying
mossago is cIoar cars ruIo our slrools and, consoquonlIy, many of our noiglborloods
offoclivoIy isoIaling our cliIdron from llo surrounding communily and Iimiling llo
rango of aclivilios lloy can parlicipalo in aIong llo vay lo groving up.
Tlis Iimil on indopondonl mobiIily docroasos cliIdron's opporlunily lo bo plysicaIIy
hl and loaIlly. Bul il may aIso lavo an impacl on aspocls of lloir monlaI loaIll by vay
of diminislod abiIily lo indopondonlIy oxporionco and Ioarn aboul llo vorId around
llom.
2 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
1|c un!cr|ing mcsscgc is c|ccr. ccrs ru|c cur sirccis, c||cciitc| isc|ciing cur
c|i|!rcn |rcm i|c surrcun!ing ccmmunii. P|cic. jc|n Wi||icms
As aulo-dopondonl dovoIopmonl las bocomo llo norm,
vo lavo soon an aIarming dovnvard lrond in cliIdron
indopondonlIy vaIIing and biIing lo sclooI. A roconl poII
found llal vliIo 71 porconl of aduIls vaIIod or bicycIod
lo sclooI vlon lloy voro young, onIy 18 porconl of lloir
cliIdron do so. Tlo movomonl lo croalo Safo Roulos lo
SclooI las focusod in Iargo parl on loIping cliIdron gol
bacI on lloir fool and on lloir bicycIos in ordor lo gol
moro loaIlly oxorciso as parl of lloir daiIy roulino. Tlis is
imporlanl: llo porlion of cliIdron vlo aro ovorvoigll or
oboso las quadrupIod in llo Iasl 25 yoars.
4
Bul croaling safo
slrools may aIso lavo a fundamonlaI impacl on cliIdron's
sonso of voII-boing in lloir noiglborlood and lloir
connoclion lo lloir communily.
Cognilivo mapping oxorcisos dramalicaIIy iIIuslralo lov cliIdron (and aduIls)
porcoivo lloir onvironmonl, and lov doing somolling as simpIo as buiIding a
pallvay can clango lloso porcoplions. Tlis arlicIo focusos on a cognilivo mapping
oxorciso conduclod in sclooIs in Conlra Cosla Counly in llo San Irancisco Bay Aroa.
Tlis oxorciso domonslralod lov ligl lrafhc affocls cliIdron's porcoplions of lloir
communily and lov maIing improvomonls can quicIIy clango lloso porcoplions and
loIp cliIdron lavo a moro posilivo viov of lloir communily.
COGNITIVL MAIIING
Tlo praclico of cognilivo or imago mapping originalod in llo hoId of psycloIogy
and vas inlroducod lo a broad audionco of urban dosignors and pIannors by Kovin
Iyncl. Tlrougl lis sominaI vorI, 1|c |mcgc c| i|c Cii, Iyncl cIassihod llo plysicaI,
porcoplibIo objocls of an onvironmonl inlo hvo oIomonls: Ialls, Ldgos, Nodos, Dislricls,
and IandmarIs. Imago mapping las boon usod by urban pIannors lo loIp idonlify
imporlanl doslinalions, proforrod roulos of lravoI, and barriors in a communily.
My fallor, DonaId AppIoyard, a sludonl llon facuIly coIIoaguo of Iyncl's, usod
mapping oxorcisos lo conducl a ronovnod sludy on llo impacls of lrafhc on slrool
and communily IivabiIily. Ho did llis by comparing llroo rosidonliaI slrools in San
Irancisco, simiIar in many rospocls, oxcopl for lloir lrafhc IovoIs. Somo of lis major
hndings voro llal as lrafhc voIumos incroaso, quaIily of Iifo faclors llal Ioad lo loaIlly
and slrong communilios (o.g., sociaI connoclions, sizo of lomo lorrilory, noiglborlood
prido and proporly vaIuos) docroaso. In adapling lo lloso lrafhc impacls, rosidonls
vouId villdrav and rolroal inlo llo bacIs of lloir lomos and avay from llo slrool
and, consoquonlIy, lloir communily. Ho aIso found llal cliIdron and llo oIdorIy voro
parlicuIarIy vuInorabIo lo llo nogalivo affocls of lrafhc oxposuro.
Iiguro 1 (foIIoving pago) graplicaIIy roprosonls llo invorso roIalionslip bolvoon
sociaI lios (slovn by llo Iinos across llo slrools) and volicuIar lrafhc, vlicl incroasos
from lop lo bollom. In llo lop slrool, vloro lloro is Iigll volicuIar lrafhc, lloro aro
many sociaI connoclions and an aclivo slrool-Iifo. Wloroas in llo bollom slrool, llo
rovorso can bo soon vill loavy lrafhc and fovor sociaI lios. In sum, llis imago slovs
lov communily lios can acluaIIy bo Inil logollor by a slrool llal is IivabIo and inviling
3 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
A rcccni pc||
|cun! i|ci u|i|c 1
pcrccni c| c!u|is
uc||c! cr |icc|c!
ic sc|cc| u|cn i|c
ucrc cung, cn|
18 pcrccni c| i|cir
c|i|!rcn !c sc.
4 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
Iigurc 1. 1|is imcgc s|cus |cu ccmmunii iics ccn cciuc|| |c |nii icgci|cr | c sircci i|ci is
|itc||c cn! intiiing cr icrn cpcri u|cn cuic irc|c ncisc, pc||uiicn, cn! i|rccis !cmincic i|c
sircci cntircnmcni.
Scurcc. Iigurc 3, pcgc 21, LltubIe Streets, Dcnc|! App|ccr!, Unitcrsii c| Cc|i|crnic Prcss, 181.
5 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
Iigurc 2. 1|is i||usirciicn s|cus |cu c rcsi!cnis scnsc c| i|cir |cmc icrriicrics s|rin|s cs irc|c
grcus |ccticr cn! |csicr.
Scurcc. Iigurc 4, pcgc 23, LltubIe Streets, Dcnc|! App|ccr!, Unitcrsii c| Cc|i|crnic Prcss, 181.
or, aIlornalivoIy, lloy can bo lorn aparl vlon aulo lrafhc noiso,
poIIulion and llroals dominalo llo slrool onvironmonl.
AddilionaIIy, Iiguro 2 slovs lov rosidonls' sonso of lloir lomo
lorrilorios slrinIs as lrafhc grovs loavior and faslor. Wlon loavy
lrafhc forcos rosidonls lo rolroal inlo llo bacIs of lloir lomos and
avay from llo slrool, llo aroas in fronl of lomos llal couId
bo vibranl pIacos for cliIdron lo pIay and noiglbors lo sociaIizo
aro Iofl omply of slrool-Iifo. As a rosuIl, fov valclfuI oyos aro
Iofl lo onlanco noiglborlood safoly.
IoIIoving on llo Iogacy of my fallor's vorI, I inilialod a
sludy lo oxpIoro lov lrafhc affocls cliIdron's porcoplions of
lloir onvironmonl, focusing spocihcaIIy on llo communily
onvironmonl bolvoon lomo and sclooI. LarIy in llo sludy, I
vorIod vill lvo coIIoaguos, Vijay }ayaclandran and Marcus
Diodoricl, lo conducl focusod inlorviovs and mapping oxorcisos
vill nino- and lon-yoar-oIds, laving llom drav froo-form maps
of lloir noiglborlood bolvoon lomo and sclooI.
Ono concIusion vas immodialoIy obvious: boing pcri of
lrafhc profoundIy affocls cliIdron's porcoplions. Many cliIdron
primariIy oxporionco llo vorId oulsido lloir lomos from llo
bacIsoal of a car. NalionaI survoys slov llal, on avorago, cliIdron
spond moro llan an lour a day in a car, nol incIuding limo in
llo sclooI bus. Iiguro 3 slovs a cliId's vindslioId viov of lis
vorId. As parl of our sludy, llis 10-yoar-oId cliId, vlo vas
drivon ovoryvloro, vas asIod lo drav a map of lis noiglborlood
6 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
Wcr|ing uii|
iuc cc||ccgucs,
Vijc
jccc|cn!rcn
cn! Mcrcus
Dic!cric|,
uc ccn!ucic!
|ccusc!
inicrticus
cn! mcpping
cxcrciscs uii|
ninc- cn!
icn-ccr-c|!s
|cting i|cm
!rcu |rcc-|crm
mcps c| i|cir
ncig||cr|cc!
|ciuccn |cmc
cn! sc|cc|.
Iigurc 3. A mcp
!rcun | c 10-ccr-
c|! c|i|! u|c ucs
!ritcn ctcru|crc.
1|c rcsu|i is c scrics
c| !isccnnccic! pci|s
i|ci |cc! scpcrcic|
|rcm |cmc ic sc|cc|,
|ricn!s, cr i|c mc||,
uii| |iii|c !cici| cr
ccnncciicn uii| i|c
ccmmunii.
C|i|! |rcm Grcgcr Gcr!cn Ncig||cr|cc!
7 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
bolvoon lomo and sclooI, as if lo voro lo doscribo il lo somoono. Tlo rosuIl vas a
sorios of disconnoclod palls llal Iod soparaloIy from lomo lo sclooI, frionds, or llo
maII, vill IillIo dolaiI or connoclion vill llo communily villin vlicl lo Iivod.
Anollor parlicipanl of llo samo sludy, a cliId vlo vas aIso drivon ovoryvloro, vas
unabIo lo maIo any connoclion vill lis communily bolvoon lomo and sclooI and lo
rosorlod lo marIing a Iino llrougl llo middIo of llo papor, draving lis sclooI abovo
and lis lomo boIov llo Iino.
Tloso oxampIos slov lov noiglborlood dosign by pIacing sclooIs, parIs,
and pIaygrounds avay from lomos and providing inadoqualo sidovaIIs and biIo
Ianos lo accoss llom can affocl cliIdron's sonso of pIaco. As paronls aro forcod lo
clauffour lloir cliIdron llrougloul lloir cliIdlood, cliIdron can bocomo cognilivoIy
disconnoclod from lloir communily.
SovoraI sludios lavo found llal lrafhc and spravIing communilios can imposo furllor
nogalivo impacls on youll IivabiIily:
- Hcct irc|c rc!uccs i|c in!cpcn!cni mc|i|ii c| c|i|!rcn cn! cui|.
5
- Oppcriuniiics cn! |ccciicns |cr spcnicnccus, ncn-siruciurc! p|c crc sctcrc|
rcsiricic! | irc|c.
6
- C|rcnic irc|c ncisc ccn sircss c|i|!rcn cn! rcisc i|cir ||cc! prcssurc, |ccri rcics,
cn! |ctc|s c| sircss |crmcncs.

- |n ncig||cr|cc!s u|crc irc|c is c nuiscncc cn! c i|rcci, c|i|!rcn |ctc c

|imiic! rcngc c| p|c cciitiiics cn! spcn! |css iimc cuisi!c. C|i|!rcn u|c |itc in
ncig||cr|cc!s nci !cmincic! | irc|c |ctc c ui!cr circ|c c| |ricn!s, cn! sc !c
i|cir pcrcnis.
8
As pcrcnis
crc |crcc!
ic c|cu||cur
i|cir c|i|!rcn
i|rcug|cui
i|cir c|i|!|cc!,
c|i|!rcn
ccn |cccmc
ccgniiitc|
!isccnnccic! |rcm
i|cir ccmmunii.
8 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
Tlo cognilivo mapping oxorciso vo conduclod in Conlra Cosla Counly, CaIifornia,
is a dramalic iIIuslralion of lloso hndings. In ordor lo gaugo llo offocl of lrafhc, vo
closo lvo rosidonliaI noiglborloods vill oIomonlary sclooIs, IarImoad (loavy-lrafhc-
oxposuro) and Grogory Gardons (Iigll-lrafhc-oxposuro). Tlo communilios voro simiIar
in mosl rospocls, oxcopl for lloir oxposuro lo lrafhc voIumos and spood. Tlo Iigll-
lrafhc-oxposuro (Iigll TL) noiglborlood, lad aboul laIf llo amounl of lrafhc as llo
loavy-lrafhc-oxposuro (Hoavy TL) noiglborlood and llo cars lravoIod al Iovor spoods
(bocauso of drainago svaIos llal providod informaI lrafhc caIming). In addilion, llo
Iigll TL noiglborlood lad good podoslrian faciIilios in Ioy Iocalions, and llo lrafhc il
did lavo vas nol as conlraIIy Iocalod. (Soo Iiguros 4a and 4b)
Iigurcs 4c cn! 4|. 1|c |ig|i-
irc|c-cxpcsurc ncig||cr|cc!,
Grcgcr Gcr!cns (c), |c!
c|cui |c|| i|c cmcuni c| irc|c
cs i|c |cct-irc|c-cxpcsurc
ncig||cr|cc!, Pcr|mcc! (|),
cn! i|c ccrs irctc|c! ci |cucr
spcc!s.
A
B
9 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
MAIIING LXLRCISL
IoIIoving llo samo
prolocoI for oacl group,
vo providod 9- and 10-
yoar-oIds vill bIanI
piocos of papor and
sovoraI pIain, bIacI
ponciIs. Wo llon road
inslruclions asIing llom
lo drav a map of lloir
noiglborlood, bolvoon
lomo and sclooI, as if
lloy voro doscribing il
lo somoono (Iiguro 5).
Wo aIso asIod llom lo
idonlify and commonl
on aroas llal lloy
IiIod, disIiIod, or foIl
voro dangorous, and
lo indicalo llo Iocalion
of lloir frionds' lomos
and pIacos lloy IiIo
lo pIay. Wo gavo oacl
group llo samo amounl
of limo for oacl lasI.
(Ior moro informalion
on llis rosoarcl,
conlacl llo aullor al
<bappIoyardmsn.com>.)
In ordor lo liglIigll
llo cliIdron's common
llomos, vo croalod lvo
composilo maps, using a
Iogond llal vouId roocl
llo oIomonls dravn on
llo maps (Iiguro 6).
Tlo Iogond dosignalos
cooI coIors for posilivo
oIomonls (groon for
lomos of frionds and
acquainlancos, bIuo for
pIacos lloy IiIo lo pIay), and varm coIors for nogalivo oIomonls (rod circIos for dangor,
orango circIos for disIiIo, and rod squaros for aulomobiIos). Tlo moro cliIdron vlo
drov a parlicuIar oIomonl, sucl as a road, llo llicIor llo Iino on llo composilo map.
9
Iigurc 5 (c|ctc). Wc WW
prcti!c! - cn! 10-
ccr-c|!s uii| pcpcr
cn! pcnci|s cn! cs|c!
i|cm ic !rcu c mcp
c| i|cir ncig||cr|cc!,
|ciuccn |cmc cn!
sc|cc|.
Iigurc 6 (|c|i).
Wc crccic! iuc WW
ccmpcsiic mcps, using
c |cgcn! i|ci rcccic!
i|c c|cmcnis !rcun cn
i|c mcps.
As vas llo caso in llo Hoavy TL noiglborlood, cognilivo mapping oxorcisos IiIo
llis (Iiguro 7) provido a vay for cliIdron lo oxpross lloir viovs of llo vorId. Sucl
oxorcisos aro invaIuabIo for idonlifying and assossing llo probIoms and opporlunilios
oxporioncod by cliIdron aIong llo roulos lo sclooI (o.g., imporlanl doslinalions, socrol
palls, proforrod lravoI roulos, and oxisling barriors). In lurn, lloy can provo invaIuabIo
lo loIping communily mombors, pubIic slaff and poIicymaIors idonlify and arlicuIalo
llo mosl cosl-offoclivo soIulions lo maIing noiglborloods and sclooI aroa slrools moro
IivabIo for llo cliIdron.
Tlis graplic comparison of llo cliIdron's coIIoclivo cognilivo oxporionco maIos il oasy
lo soo llo invorso corroIalion bolvoon lloir oxposuro lo lrafhc and llo quaIily of lloir
noiglborlood oxporionco.
In llo Hoavy TL noiglborlood, llo cliIdron froquonlIy oxprossod fooIings of disIiIo
and dangor and voro unabIo lo roprosonl any dolaiI of llo surrounding onvironmonl.
NovoII Avonuo, llo main road in fronl of llo sclooI, is a lroo-Iinod slrool and yol fov
of llo lroos voro dravn, insload, rod (dangor, cars) and orango (disIiIo) dominalod.
Iarlicipanls from llo Iigll TL noiglborlood, on llo ollor land, slovod a mucl riclor
sonso of lloir onvironmonl, draving moro of llo slrools, lousos, lroos, and ollor objocls,
and incIuding fovor signs of dangor, or disIiIo and fovor cars. Tlo cliIdron aIso drov
many moro pIacos in llo slrool vloro lloy IiIod lo pIay and aroas llal lloy jusl simpIy
IiIod: lloy nolod pIaying in 43 porconl moro Iocalions in lloir slrools roIalivo lo llo
cliIdron in llo loavy-lrafhc-oxposuro noiglborlood.
In sum, as oxposuro lo aulo lrafhc voIumos and spood docroasos, a cliId's sonso of
llroal goos dovn, and lis/lor abiIily lo oslabIisl a riclor connoclion and approcialion
for llo communily risos. A cliId from llo Iigll-lrafhc-oxposuro noiglborlood offorod
llo loslimoniaI on llo foIIoving pago (Iiguro 8).
10 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
Iigurc . Ccgniiitc mcpping cxcrciscs |i|c i|is |c|p i!cnii| cn! csscss prc||cms cn! cppcriuni-
iics i|ci c|i|!rcn cxpcricncc c|cng i|c rcuics ic sc|cc|.
CRLATING SAIL ROITLS TO SCHOOI
WliIo llo cognilivo
mapping sludy loIpod
idonlify, priorilizo, and
gallor supporl and funding
for noodod improvomonls,
il aIso prosonlod an
opporlunily lo soo vlollor
maIing llo slrool safor
for cliIdron couId clango
lloir porcoplion of lloir
noiglborlood. Willin a
yoar aflor llo iniliaI sludy,
lvo vaIIvays and a nov
slop sign voro inslaIIod
aIong llo busiosl corridors
Ioading lo llo sclooI in
llo loavy-lrafhc-oxposuro
noiglborlood (Iiguro 9).
Wailing aImosl a yoar for
llo bonohls lo bo roaIizod,
I conduclod a foIIov-up
sludy lo oxamino lov
lloso faciIilios affoclod llo
IivabiIily and llo quaIily
of Iifo of llis communily's
sclooIcliIdron.
11 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
Iigurc 8. A c|i|! |rcm i|c |ig|i-irc|c-cxpcsurc ncig||cr|cc! c||crc! i|is icsiimcnic|.
Iigurc . Wii|in c ccr c|icr i|c iniiic| siu!, iuc uc||ucs
cn! c ncu sicp sign ucrc insic||c! c|cng i|c |usicsi ccrri!crs
|cc!ing ic i|c |cct-irc|c-cxpcsurc ncig||cr|cc!s sc|cc|.
8c|crc i|c imprctcmcnis
Boforo llo improvomonls voro mado in llo loavy-lrafhc-oxposuro noiglborlood,
many cliIdron drov oxprossions of disIiIo and dangor associalod vill aulomobiIos
and voro unabIo lo roprosonl any dolaiI of llo surrounding onvironmonl possibIy
fooIing ovorvloImod by llo llroals posod by llo aulomobiIos. Aflor llo improvomonls
aIIovialod llo oxposuro lo lloso llroals, lloro voro indood fovor oxprossions of dangor
and disIiIo, indicaling a groalor sonso of comforl and voII-boing. Iurllormoro llo
sludonls oxprossod a mucl riclor rocaII of llo claraclorislics of noiglborlood around
llo busy slrool. (Soo Iiguros 10a and 10b.)
Tlo pallorn is aIso cIoar
from llo maps mado by
individuaI cliIdron vlo
parlicipalod in boll llo boforo
and aflor sludios. In Iiguros
11(a) and (b) on llo foIIoving
pago, a cliId slovod a vory
ligl associalion vill llo
llroal of lrafhc boforo llo
improvomonls. (Scc i|c ncic
in i|c |cucr rig|i, i|c ccrs
nctcr sicp cn! i|crc is icc muc|
ircc|.)
Iurllormoro, llo busy,
dangorous slrool bolvoon
lomo and sclooI is roIogalod
lo llo bollom rigll cornor of
llo map. Conlrasl llis vill
llo imago dravn by llo samo
cliId aflor llo improvomonls.
(To orionl, nolo llal in llo
socond map llo n slapod
Ioop of llo cliId's lomo
slrool is mucl smaIIor and
farllor lo llo Iofl). Iirsl, llo
loavy lrafhc/ligl spood
slrool is nov mucl moro
signihcanl porlion of llo
cliId's noiglborlood imago,
as is llo sclooI. Iurllormoro,
ono of llo mosl signihcanl
oIomonls llal slands oul
is llo nov pallvay llal is
cIoarIy roprosonlod across
llo Iovor porlion of llo map,
liglIigllod by llo groon
12 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
Iigurcs 10c cn! 10|. 8c|crc imprctcmcnis (c), i|crc ucrc
mcn cxprcssicns c| !cngcr cn! !is|i|c. A|icr imprctc-
mcnis (|), i|crc ucrc |cucr suc| cxprcssicns, in!icciing c
grccicr scnsc c| ccm|cri cn! uc||-|cing.
A
B
roclangIo. WliIo mucl of llis cliId's
loigllonod cognilivo sonso of llo
noiglborlood can bo oxpIainod by llo
malurily and oxporionco dovoIopod in
llo poriod bolvoon llo sludios, llo cIoar
idonlihcalion of llo pallvay marIs ils
roIo as a major conlribulor lo onricling
llo quaIily of llis cliId's noiglborlood
oxporionco.
Anollor cliId aIso oxprossod
a posilivo ovoraII imago of lis
noiglborlood aflor llo improvomonl
and again dislinclIy idonlihod llo nov
pallvay (groon roclangIo) and slop sign
(groon loxagon) on llo map (Iiguro 12).
WliIo boll cliIdron rocognizod llal
llis slrool sliII prosonls a dangor (vory
bisoy and nol IiIo bocauso of aII llo
cars), lloir abiIily lo manago and
ovorcomo llo llroal and dominalion
of cars on lloso noiglborlood slrool
omorgos duo lo llo improvomonls lo llo
podoslrian and biIing onvironmonl.
Iigurcs 11(c) cn! 11(|). |n (c), i|c c|i|! s|cuc! c |ig| csscciciicn uii| i|c i|rcci c| irc|c
|c|crc imprctcmcnis (c.g., scc i|c ncic in i|c |cucr rig|i, i|c ccrs nctcr sicp cn! i|crc is icc
muc| ircc|.). Ncic i|ci i|c c|i|!s mcp is cricnic! uii| scui| ci i|c icp.
Iigurc 12 (|c|cu). Anci|cr c|i|! !isiinci|
rcprcscnis i|c ncu pci|uc (grccn rccicng|c)
cn! sicp sign (grccn |cxcgcn).
13 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
A B
A comparison of llo coIIoclivo imago maps of llo cliIdron from llo boforo group
and llo aflor group rovoaIs lov improvomonls lo llo podoslrian and bicycIing
onvironmonls loIp cliIdron dovoIop a riclor sonso of lloir noiglborlood, as voII as
Iosson llo sonso of llroal posod by aulomobiIos.
Tloso hndings aro ospociaIIy imporlanl in Iigll of llo Safo Roulos lo SclooI
movomonl, vlicl is bringing nov rosourcos inlo communilios lo improvo llo vaIIing
and bicycIing onvironmonl for cliIdron. CaIifornia and Toxas lavo inslilulod slalovido
programs, and Congross las lonlalivoIy incIudod a nov Safo Roulos lo SclooI program
in llo nov fodoraI lransporlalion biII.
A boforo-and-aflor sludy of improvomonls mado undor llo Safo Roulos lo sclooI
program in CaIifornia found slrong ovidonco of immodialo succoss in hvo of nino
sclooIs sludiod. Tlo sludy found moro cliIdron vaIIod lo sclooI, vliIo aulomobiIo
spoods voro Iovor and moro drivors yioIdod lo podoslrians. Tlo sludy found llal
projocls llal cIosod sidovaII gaps voro ospociaIIy succossfuI.
10
WliIo llo sludy did
nol moasuro cliIdron's sonso of voII-boing, il sooms roasonabIo lo assumo llal llis
improvod as voII.
CONCIISION
Tlis rosoarcl sooIs lo addross llo quoslion, Hov doos
aulo-dopondoncy, and aulo-dominalion of our slrools and
noiglborloods, affocl llo vay a cliId viovs lis or lor
vorId` Tlo maps compiIod in llis rosoarcl slov llal
as oxposuro lo aulo lrafhc voIumos and spood docroasos,
a cliId's sonso of llroal goos dovn, and lis/lor abiIily
lo oslabIisl a riclor connoclion and approcialion for llo
communily risos.
Willoul podoslrian and bicycIo faciIilios lo provido
sancluary for a cliId from aulomobiIo lrafhc, llo nogalivo
sonsos of dangor and disIiIo moan cliIdron cannol approcialo
or possibIy ovon idonlify llo quaIilios of lloir noiglborlood
llal aro momorabIo, posilivo, or spociaI. AddilionaIIy,
oxposuro lo llroals posod by aulomobiIos Iimils a cliId's
posilivo associalion vill lis or lor noiglborlood, incIuding
llo aroa around llo noiglborlood sclooI. BuiIding compIolo
and IivabIo slrools llal aro safo for lravoI via fool, bicycIo,
and yos, aulomobiIos, is ospociaIIy imporlanl if vo vanl our
cliIdron lo oslabIisl a loaIlly sonso of comforl, voII boing,
and connoclion villin lloir ovn communily.
Supporling youll IivabiIily by aclioving slrool IivabiIily
objoclivos aIso loIps ongago cliIdron and aduIls in lloir
slrool and communily, uIlimaloIy maIing slrools and pubIic
pIacos safor for ovoryono. In cIosing, vliIo nov vaIIing
and bicycIing faciIilios can improvo a cliId's plysicaI loaIll
and safoly, lloy aIso can aIIov cliIdron lo oxpIoro, connocl,
sociaIizo, and lo bo...Iids!
14 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
As cxpcsurc
ic cuic irc|c
tc|umcs cn! spcc!
!ccrccscs, c c|i|!s
scnsc c| i|rcci
gccs !cun, cn!
|is/|cr c|i|ii ic
csic||is| c ric|cr
ccnncciicn cn!
cpprcciciicn |cr
i|c ccmmunii
riscs.
LNDNOTLS
1 Surfaco Transporlalion IoIicy Irojocl, Hig| Mi|ccgc Mcms, May 1999.
2 Iodoslrian injury is llo 3rd Ioading causo of provonlabIo doall among cliIdron.
3 Surfaco Transporlalion IoIicy Irojocl, Mccn Sirccis 2000, }uno 2000.
4 Conlors for Disoaso ConlroI and Irovonlion, NalionaI Conlor for HoaIll Slalislics, NalionaI HoaIll
and Nulrilion Lxaminalion Survoy. Ogdon ol. aI. }AMA. 2002,288:1728-1732.
5 Tranlor, I., DoyIo, }. (1996). RocIaiming llo RosidonliaI Slrool as IIay Spaco. |nicrnciicnc| P|c jcurnc|,
4, pp.81-97.
6 HiIIman, M., Adams, }., (1992) CliIdron's froodom and safoly, C|i|!rcns |ntircnmcnis, 9 (2), pp. 10-22.
7 Lvans, G., Iorclor, I., Mois, M., ol aI (2001) Communily noiso oxposuro and slross in cliIdron, }ournaI
of llo AcouslicaI Socioly of Amorica, 109 (3), pp.1023-1027.
8 Soo Iago 18 of Luropoan Commission, Dirocloralo-GonoraI for llo Lnvironmonl (2002), Kids on llo
Movo, Ofhco for OfhciaI IubIicalions of llo Luropoan Communilios, Iuxombourg.
9 Tlis procoss is vory offoclivo al anaIyzing llo abiIily of cliIdron as a group lo idonlify plysicaI
foaluros as voII as moasuring lloir abiIily lo associalo bolvoon aclivilios and plysicaI spaco in lloir
noiglborlood. Il aIso funclions lo roprosonl llo roIalionslip bolvoon lloir fooIings and proforoncos
and plysicaI spaco.
10 CaITrans Safo Roulos lo SclooI roporl lo llo IogisIaluro, Docombor 2003.
BIBIIOGRAIHY
AppIoyard, B., (1997), Rcirciiing Auic-Su|ur|ic. A Ccmmunii Gui!c ic Otcrccming Auic-Dcminciicn,
Inivorsily of CaIifornia al BorIoIoy, Maslor's Dogroo IrofossionaI Roporl.
AppIoyard, D., (1981), Iitc||c Sirccis, Inivorsily of CaIifornia Iross. BorIoIoy.
Iyncl, K., (1980), 1|c |mcgc c| i|c Cii, MIT Iross. Cambridgo, MA
NC8W IORUM is cn cn|inc pu||icciicn c| i|c Nciicnc| Ccnicr |cr 8icc|ing c Wc||ing.
|D|1OR. jc|n Wi||icms <jc|nmcnicnc.ccm>
1c |ccrn mcrc, tisii i|c nc|u |crum siic ci uuu.nc|u|crum.in|cp.cc
Or tisii cur mcin uc|siic ci uuu.|i|cuc||.crg.
15 NCBW Fnrum ArticIc 3-7-05 March 2005
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
1|rcug| |is ccnsu|iing prcciicc, App|ccr! Assccicics, Mr. App|ccr! spccic|izcs in c||cciitc ircnspcr-
iciicn, |cn!-usc cn! ur|cn !csign sircicgics |cr ti|rcni, |itc||c cn! susicinc||c ccmmunii ctc|uiicn.
Ircm ncig||cr|cc! prcjccis ic nciicnc| pc|icics, Mr. App|ccr!s cxpcricncc cs c Ncig||cr|cc! P|cnncr,
Smcri Grcui| |xpcri, P|cnning Ccmmissicncr, cic., prcti!c |im uii| !ccp insig|i cn! cxpcriisc inic
c mric! c| p|cnning issucs ci i|c sircci, ncig||cr|cc! cn! rcgicnc| |ctc|s. 1rcns|ciing |is cxpcricnccs
inic i|c c|cssrccm, |c |cs icug|i i|c grc!ucic ircnspcriciicn cn! |cn! usc p|cnning ccurscs ci Pcri-
|cn! Sicic Unitcrsii cn! i|c Unitcrsii c| Virginic, cs uc|| cs ucr|s|cps |cr i|c Nciicnc| Ccnicr |cr
8icc|ing cn! Wc||ing cn! 1|c Unitcrsii c| Cc|i|crnic.
CONTACT INFO:
8rucc App|ccr! ccn |c rccc|c! ci |cpp|ccr!msn.ccm, |rucccpp|ccr!grcup.ccm,
uuu.smcrigrcui|p|cnning.ccm,cr ci 503-810-24.