Browsing by Author "Cloutier, Marie-Soleil"

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    Investigating the Built Environment’s Influence on Child Active Transportation Injury and Prevalence
    (2024-04-11) HubkaRao, Tate; Hagel, Brent; Nettel-Aguirre, Alberto; Cloutier, Marie-Soleil
    Background: Motor-vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a leading cause of Canadian child active transportation injuries. Specific built environment features may reduce child injury risk while increasing active transportation prevalence; however, few studies exist evaluating the effectiveness of these features specific to this age group. Further, it is important to understand how built environment features can influence community and school wide child active transportation injuries and prevalence. Methods: Using a modified stepped-wedge trial, Chapters 3 and 4 investigated the influence of installing specific built environment features on traffic speed and volume, active transportation prevalence, and caregiver perceptions of safety. Chapters 5 and 6 used machine learning recursive partitioning trees to predict the number of child active transportation related MVCs, and the proportion of elementary students using active transportation to school, based on the built environment within respective geographical areas. Results: Chapter 3 found traffic calming curbs and in-street signs were associated with a reduction in traffic speed, depending on time-period. No significant changes in traffic volume were found immediately following installation. In-street signs were associated with a reduction of active transportation prevalence in the morning, and an increase in the afternoon. Chapter 4 found traffic calming curb installation was associated with higher proportions of caregiver perceptions of safety. Some respondents showed higher proportions of reported children walking to school at intervention locations. Chapter 5 found built environment features such as signalized intersections were predictive of annual collisions. Chapter 6 showed population density to be important in predicting active transportation prevalence to school. Conclusions: Results of this thesis support calls for a systems approach to road safety. The variability in characteristics of the urban environment that are associated with child active transportation safety and prevalence suggests that no single intervention would be as effective as a more holistic and comprehensive approach. Specific features such as traffic calming curbs and in-street signs, coupled with reductions of major roadways and increases in population density, may, together, have a considerable and lasting effect on improving active transportation safety for Canadian children.
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    The built environment and active transportation safety in children and youth: a study protocol
    (2019-06-11) Hagel, Brent E; Macpherson, Alison; Howard, Andrew; Fuselli, Pamela; Cloutier, Marie-Soleil; Winters, Meghan; Richmond, Sarah A; Rothman, Linda; Belton, Kathy; Buliung, Ron; Emery, Carolyn A; Faulkner, Guy; Kennedy, Jacqueline; Ma, Tracey; Macarthur, Colin; McCormack, Gavin R.; Morrow, Greg; Nettel-Aguirre, Alberto; Owens, Liz; Pike, Ian; Russell, Kelly; Torres, Juan; Voaklander, Donald; Embree, Tania; Hubka, Tate
    Abstract Background Active transportation, such as walking and biking, is a healthy way for children to explore their environment and develop independence. However, children can be injured while walking and biking. Many cities make changes to the built environment (e.g., traffic calming features, separated bike lanes) to keep people safe. There is some research on how effective these changes are in preventing adult pedestrians and bicyclists from getting hurt, but very little research has been done to show how safe various environments are for children and youth. Our research program will study how features of the built environment affect whether children travel (e.g., to school) using active modes, and whether certain features increase or decrease their likelihood of injury. Methods First, we will use a cross-sectional study design to estimate associations between objectively measured built environment and objectively measured active transportation to school among child elementary students. We will examine the associations between objectively measured built environment and child and youth pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) and bicyclist-MVCs. We will also use these data to determine the space-time distribution of pedestrian-MVCs and bicyclist-MVCs. Second, we will use a case-crossover design to compare the built environment characteristics of the site where child and youth bicyclists sustain emergency department reported injuries and two randomly selected sites (control sites) along the bicyclist’s route before the injury occurred. Third, to identify implementation strategies for built environment change at the municipal level to encourage active transportation we will conduct: 1) an environmental scan, 2) key informant interviews, 3) focus groups, and 4) a national survey to identify facilitators and barriers for implementing built environment change in municipalities. Finally, we will develop a built environment implementation toolkit to promote active transportation and prevent child pedestrian and bicyclist injuries. Discussion This program of research will identify the built environment associated with active transportation safety and form an evidence base from which municipalities can draw information to support change. Our team’s national scope will be invaluable in providing information regarding the variability in built environment characteristics and is vital to producing evidence-based recommendations that will increase safe active transportation.