Abstract:
Children's andyoung people's independent mobility has decreasedsignificant!J 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 natb children aged 7-15 years about their mobility
behavior which was conducted as part of a larger international stu4J coordinated f?y the Policy Studies Institute,
UK The questionnaire was completed in five different settlement types in Sri Lanka. The researchfound 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 couldgo moreplaces on tbeir own, but this
is Izke!J due to more options than parental permission. Secondary school children have greater independent mobiliry
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 netuores, and lifesryleprtferences.
