CITY OF DAVIS~ University of Tennessee NEEDS You!!

PLEASE READ: CITY OF DAVIS!!!! You Could Help with Important Research!

     Tennessee as a southern state is not known for its resident’s active lifestyle and healthy eating habits. Unfortunately, many of the stereotypes of a southeastern state regarding eating fried foods and having a love affair with the automobile hold true for Tennesseans. Tennessee's obesity rate of 29.2 percent ties with Virginia for the 15th highest rate in the country for 2011. Tennessee ranks thirteenth in the nation for the number of vehicle miles driven (VMT) per capita with 11,154 miles per person per year in 2009. Given these documented behaviors one might assume Tennesseans would have negative views of biking, walking and programs like Safe Routes to School. To-date Tennessee's Safe Routes to School program has been less effective than hoped.Researchers from the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Tennessee are currently conducting research in an effort to increase the effectiveness of the program.  

     As part of this effort, researchers have identified a number of communities across the United States who have been successful in promoting active lifestyles and Davis, CA is one that has been identified.  Researchers are trying to determine how the lifestyles and attitudes of parents affect their children’s habits and level of activity.  Additionally, they are investigating how perceptions of safety, feelings of belonging to a community or neighborhood, and school policies affect parents’ decisions to allow their children to walk or bicycle to school.

     A telephone survey with parents of students in Kindergarten through 8th grade was conducted with parents in Davis, CA in October and November of this year. Unfortunately, these efforts only resulted in 100 interviews being completed toward a goal of 400 interviews.  This number of interviews would allow researchers to compare results from Davis to other areas of the country with confidence.  In an effort to hear from more parents in your area, researchers have purchased an ad on Patch.com.  Please take a few minutes to complete the survey – it will only take about 10 minutes and then you will be entered in a drawing to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

Please click on this link to take the short survey  http://tiny.utk.edu/DAVIS

Thank you so much :)