World Health: 5 Questions on How Transport is Related to Health

08th Apr 2013

TheCityFix interviewed EMBARQ Health and Road safety expert, Claudia Adriazola-Steil, for World Health Day 2013.

Q1. How can we tackle the problem of rising obesity and physical inactivity through transport?

Lack of physical activity contributes to 3.2 million deaths annually, yet just 150 minutes of physical activity per week – about 20 minutes per day – can improve health and reduce the risk of disease. A study by the New York City Department of Health showed that those who take mass transport, cycle and walk as their main form of transport, receive more physical activity than those who rely on cars.

Physical activity can be promoted in neighborhoods through access to mass transport, bike and pedestrian paths, safe streets, connectivity between different transport modes, and a compact mix of housing, retail, parks and offices. One study showed that Barcelona’s Bicing bike sharing system saved an estimated 12 lives per year, mostly by getting people out of their cars and active on the streets.

Perceptions of cycling among homeless young people in Sydney (Australia)

03rd Jan 2013

This research, published in the journal Youth Studies Australia in November 2012, examines the perceptions and attitudes toward cycling of young people who were experiencing or at risk of homelessness in central and south-western Sydney. The benefits of cycling for physical activity, personal transport, independence and social inclusion were recognised. Barriers to regular cycling included compliance with mandatory helmet legislation; a lack of cycling skills and experience; a paucity of cycling infrastructure and reliance on cars for personal transport; and access to affordable bicycles and equipment.

Portable Libraries by Bicycle (North and South America)

06th Sep 2012

These five short case studies profile portable libraries powered by bicycle that have been established in North and South America. The libraries are all slightly different in their aims but share a central approach of distributing books to local neighbourhoods. 

Social Equity Agenda For Sustainable Transportation (Canada)

14th Mar 2012

This report, published by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute in March 2012, discusses the importance of incorporating social equity and environmental justice objectives into transport policy and planning analysis. It recommends a more systematic and comprehensive framework for social equity impact analysis.

Open Streets Guide (USA)

22nd Feb 2012

Open streets initiatives temporarily close streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for just about any activity but driving. As of early 2012, there are more than 70 known initiatives in the North America. In February 2012 the Open Streets Project published a comprehensive guide which includes an introduction to open streets, best practices, 67 case studies and links to further resources.

The relationship between transport and disadvantage (Australia)

26th Aug 2011

This Resource Sheet is designed to provide practitioners and policy-makers who plan and/or deliver services to children and families, especially within disadvantaged communities, with an understanding of how transport and disadvantage intersect and why some groups are especially vulnerable to transport disadvantage. It was released by the Australian Institute of Family Studies in August 2011.

Fairness in a Car-dependent Society

04th Jul 2011

This report by the UK's Sustainable Development Commission was released in February 2011. The report looks at who benefits from current patterns of travel, who does not, and how well the system serves the most vulnerable groups in society such as the young, the old and the poor. The picture which emerges is one of significant inequalities.

A world made better, by bikes

22nd Jun 2011

This video, by People for Bikes, explores the idea that when people ride bikes, life is better. The short video show riders triggering projectors throughout a city, transforming an urban environment into a vibrant, colorful world. A world made better, by bikes.

Inmates in UK Prison Repair Bikes and Donate Them To African Schoolchildren

10th Jan 2011

Inmates at Gloucester prison in the UK are spending some of their free time (and you have a lot of that in prison) repairing donated bikes which are then shipped by Jole Rider to a partner organisation in Gambia, Africa. Once there, the bikes can change kids lives by allowing them to get to school. Bikes remain school property, with teachers allocating them to the students who need them most. When a child graduates from school, their bike is re-allocated to another child, multiplying the long-term impact of each bike.

The Welcome Return of the Bicycle (USA)

24th Sep 2010

This is a 2010 article by Lester Brown - an excerpt of his chapter Designing Cities for People in Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization.  The bicycle has many attractions as a form of personal transportation. It alleviates congestion, lowers air pollution, reduces obesity, increases physical fitness, does not emit climate-disrupting carbon dioxide, and is priced within the reach of the billions of people who cannot afford a car. Bicycles increase mobility while reducing congestion and the area of land paved over. Six bicycles can typically fit into the road space used by one car. For parking, the advantage is even greater, with 20 bicycles occupying the space required to park a car.

Reclaiming City Streets For People: Chaos Or Quality Of Life? (Europe)

24th Sep 2010

This 2009 guidebook by the European Commission's Directorate-General for the Environment describes why and how to reallocate urban road space to improve walking and cycling conditions, and create more livable communities. It includes recommendations for implementation, and several case studies.

Social Research in Transport Clearinghouse (Australia)

24th Sep 2010

The Social Research in Transport (SORT) Clearinghouse aims to increase awareness of social issues in transport by making it easier to access research in this area. The Clearinghouse is a repository of research reports, research abstracts and links to research findings. 

Active Transportation for America

17th Sep 2010

This 2008 report, produced by Bikes Belong and the Rail-to-Trails Conservancy, makes the case for increased federal investment in bicycling and walking in the United States.

Quantifying the benefits of non-motorized transportation (Canada)

17th Sep 2010

Produced by the Canadian Victoria Transport Policy Institute and authored by Todd Littman, this 2011 paper outlines the numerous benefits associated with active transport modes such as cycling. It discusses the methods available to quantify the social, economic, environmental and transport benefits of cycling.

The economic significance of cycling (International)

17th Sep 2010

This study published in the Netherlands in 2000 and authored by R Spreekmeester, R Wittink and J Van Den Berg assesses the various costs and benefits of cycling in various parts of the world.  Their wide ranging analysis covers the costs of traffic and infrastructure, economic considerations and the health and environmental benefits of cycling, etc.