1 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Children‘s Independent Mobility: Where is Germany heading? Speakers: Björn Frauendienst Andreas Redecker Ruhr-University Bochum Geography Department Germany

2 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department One False Move Thesis: statistics on road casualties are not the only indicator to benchmark the security of traffic Source: Department for Transport, 1989

3 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Children‘s Independent Mobility Our understanding today  distinction between mobility and traffic  mobility  mobility: capability of a single person for spatial movement  traffic  traffic: sum of people’s realised movements from A to B (for reference see Gather et al or Nuhn & Hesse 2006) children‘s independent mobility (CIM) children‘s independent mobility (CIM) degree of mobility remaining after parental restrictions apply

4 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Children‘s Independent Mobility The understanding in 1990  no clear definition of CIM  instrument to measure CIM in accordance with today's definition of mobility  six licenses  six licenses used to measure restrictions in mobility  crossing main roads,  going to leisure activities alone,  coming home from school alone,  cycling on main roads,  using public transport,  being outside alone after dark

5 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Children‘s Independent Mobility 1990 License to come home from school alone among primary school children Source: Hillman et al. 1990: 131

6 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department The 2010 study - background Factors implying that CIM might have dropped in Germany over the last 20 years:  general traffic studies imply a grown importance of car dependent travel  changes in the German school system (catchment areas, introduction of an optional all-day-school  less road accidents with children involved since 1990s

7 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department The 2010 study - targets 1.to reveal possible changes in children’s independent mobility at the ten schools surveyed in to identify influencing factors that may have affected children’s independent mobility 3.to show a possible connection between today’s level of children’s independent mobility and the noticeable decline in road casualties

8 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Methodology 2010 study  aim to re-survey the schools from 1990  cities involved: Bochum, Köln, Witten + Wuppertal  children aged 7 to 15 have been interviewed: - classes 2 to 4 (primary school) and - classes 5 to 9 (secondary school)  identical questionnaire for all ages  linkage between parents’ and children’s questionnaire  survey was conducted simultaneously on a Monday in February

9 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Content of the questionnaires Children (focused on day of survey) Parents (focused on general behaviour and statistical data) way to school leisure time behaviour in traffic fears in traffic and in the neighbourhood licenses in traffic reasons for licensing questions about age of license granting own childhood statistical data about the household

10 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Return rate  801 pupils have been surveyed in 2010  579 parents sent back the questionnaires  72,3 % Source: own figure based on 1990 and 2010 survey data

11 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Key results of the 2010 study 1. The mobility of primary school children surveyed in Germany in 2010 is much more restricted than in This restricted mobility leads to distinct local travel patterns of children and their parents

12 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department License granting Source: own figure based on 1990 and 2010 survey data

13 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Differences at among primary schools Source: own figure based on 1990 and 2010 survey data

14 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Effects on travel patterns Source: own figure based on 1990 and 2010 survey data

15 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Effects on travel patterns Source: own figure based on 1990 and 2010 survey data

16 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Two main types of restricted CIM Car School (Witten)  suburban setting  high rate of car use  children driven long & short distances Escort School (Köln-Mitte)  city centre setting  high rate of parents escorting children  low level of motorised transport

17 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Causes for reduced CIM (both types)  children not visiting the nearest school to their home  risen parental perception of traffic dangers  the introduction of all-day-school

18 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department The 2010 study – results on targets 1. to reveal possible changes in children’s independent mobility at the ten schools surveyed in 1990  CIM has gone down at primary schools 2. to identify influencing factors that may have affected children’s independent mobility  distance to school, risen fears, all-day-school 3. show a possible connection between today’s level of children’s independent mobility and the noticeable decline in road casualties  possible connection, because…

19 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Meanings for road safety Simply said: If less children are using active travel modes independently, less children can have accidents as cyclist or pedestrians Possible conclusion: It is better for children to be escorted to school because they will have less accidents and parents can spend more time with them

20 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department BUT !!!!  To be driven to school is at least as dangerous as walking to school  Participating in traffic is more than getting from A to B as positive results may be  more chances to physically exercise  higher spatial perception of living environment  more social interaction with peer group  only chance to practice a proper traffic behaviour (for reference see Unfallkasse NRW 2010)

21 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department Conclusion  The study indicates that Germany is currently heading towards a lower degree of children‘s independent mobility  If less accidents involving children are to be achieved without restricting children’s development, integrated measures need to be developed.  more reliable research on the connection between CIM and children’s development  child oriented urban planning  educational programs  cooperation between actors (parents, teachers, police, local administration and road safety organisations)

22 Speakers: Björn Frauendienst (M.Sc.) Dr. Andreas Redecker – Ruhr-University Bochum – Geography Department