Analysis and Optimization Prioritization of School Routes in Mountainous Cities Based on Child-Friendly Principles: A Case Study of Chongqing

Yage Wang, Xinshi Zhang, Shenghao Yuan, Hongwei Huang, Ying Tang () and Chengyong Shi
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Yage Wang: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Xinshi Zhang: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Shenghao Yuan: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Hongwei Huang: College of Water Resources and Architectural Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Ying Tang: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
Chengyong Shi: College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-25

Abstract: This study addresses the critical gap in designing child-friendly school commuting routes in mountainous cities like Chongqing, where steep terrain and complex infrastructure pose unique challenges to children’s safety and accessibility. Combining Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) and the Kano model, we systematically evaluated 19 design elements across safety, interest, and convenience dimensions through comprehensive field research and surveys involving 611 participants. Our analysis identified emergency signage systems, street greening, and parent pick-up points as pivotal optimization factors, while revealing significant improvement needs for vehicle speed limits and anti-slip pavement. The findings demonstrate how context-specific, evidence-based design solutions can effectively enhance children’s commuting experiences in challenging urban environments, providing urban planners with a scientifically-grounded framework that adapts child-friendly principles to mountainous contexts. This research advances the field of child-friendly urban planning by bridging the current theoretical-practical divide and offering actionable strategies tailored to geographically constrained cities.

Keywords: child-friendly urban planning; IPA-KANO model; mountain city; school commute route; Chongqing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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