Rural parents’ route choices under different modes for school children drop-off and pick-up: a stated choice experiment

Urbanization and school consolidation in rural areas have led to longer school commuting distances and changes in travel patterns, including increased use of private cars and e-bikes. As a result, greater parental involvement is needed to ensure safe and timely school commutes. This study explored how parents/guardians' preferences for the built environment affect their route choices under different transportation modes in rural school commutes. Using a stated choice experiment and discrete choice models, the study identified key factors influencing route choices, such as travel distance and built environment characteristics like fewer road intersections, low traffic speeds, presence of sidewalks/bike lanes, road separation provisions, traffic lights, zebra crossings, green plants, and shops when walking, cycling, and riding an e-bike. The findings highlight the need to consider parents' preferences when planning interventions and policies to enhance rural school travel, promote rural transportation and support diverse transportation modes in rural areas.