Built Environment and Active Transport to School (BEATS) Study: protocol for a cross-sectional study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Environmental Health
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Active transport to school (ATS) is crucial for increasing physical activity and promoting sustainable travel among adolescents.
• Understanding the multifaceted factors influencing transport choices is essential for developing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate adolescent and parental motivations for school transport choices.
• To analyze the interplay between transport modes, the built environment, physical activity, and weight status in adolescents.
• To identify policy levers that can encourage or impede ATS.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative (surveys, accelerometry, GIS) and qualitative (interviews, focus groups) data collection.
• Utilizing objective measures of physical activity and the built environment, alongside subjective perceptions of safety and environment.
• Engaging a comprehensive range of participants including students, parents, teachers, and school principals across 12 secondary schools.

Main Results:

• Data collection is underway, with 100% school recruitment achieved.
• Comprehensive data on physical activity, built environment characteristics, and socio-environmental factors will be gathered.
• Analysis will explore associations between individual, social, environmental, and policy factors and ATS.

Conclusions:

• The BEATS study is well-positioned to provide robust evidence on promoting ATS in adolescents.
• Findings will inform infrastructure development and policy recommendations to support active school travel.
• Dissemination will target stakeholders, policymakers, and the scientific community to maximize impact.