Sri Lankan Children’s Independent Mobility

Abstract

Children’s and young people’s independent mobility has decreased significantly in industrialised countries, and these trends could be replicated in Sri Lanka as standards of living increase alongside changes in urban form. This paper presents data from a questionnaire conducted in 2011 with children aged 7-15 years about their mobility behavior which was conducted as part of a larger international study coordinated by the Policy Studies Institute, UK The questionnaire was completed in five different settlement types in Sri Lanka. The research found that children in inner urban and suburban areas had less independent school travel than children in large and small towns and rural areas. In contrast, more urban and suburban children could go more places on their own, but this is likely due to more options than parental permission. Secondary school children have greater independent mobility than primary school children. The dominant mode of transport changed depending on settlement size. The data is interpreted and discussed in the context of increased standard of living as expressed through urbanisation processes as represented through urban form, density, transport networks, and lifestyle preferences.