Active transport, urban form and human health: Developing the links

Walking and cycling, together referred to as active transport, are widely regarded as the healthiest and most sustainable means of transport. The health benefits, and subsequent economic benefits particularly from health-related productivity, of walkable, transit orientated urban forms are well esta...

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Main Authors: Matan, Annie, Newman, Peter
Other Authors: Liveable Cities Editorial Board
Format: Conference Paper
Published: Liveable Cities 2014
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31212
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author Matan, Annie
Newman, Peter
author2 Liveable Cities Editorial Board
author_facet Liveable Cities Editorial Board
Matan, Annie
Newman, Peter
author_sort Matan, Annie
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Walking and cycling, together referred to as active transport, are widely regarded as the healthiest and most sustainable means of transport. The health benefits, and subsequent economic benefits particularly from health-related productivity, of walkable, transit orientated urban forms are well established and are measurable. The relationships between human health and transportation choices are increasingly becoming an important focus in city planning and urban design. This paper examines the relationships between human health, urban form and transport, looking at how urban form can encourage or discourage active transport and the potential human health impacts of these urban planning decisions. Urban form characteristics, such as density levels and mixed land uses, along with transportation indicators, such as vehicle kilometres travelled and access to public transport, are identified along with the provision of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. These indicators can be used to assess future and existing land use. The paper is part of a larger project looking at the development of a methodology to assess human health outcomes using transportation outputs from a typical urban development model. The paper concludes that inclusive active transport requires a number of elements, particularly planning, infrastructure, evaluation and modification.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-312122017-01-30T13:24:06Z Active transport, urban form and human health: Developing the links Matan, Annie Newman, Peter Liveable Cities Editorial Board Walking and cycling, together referred to as active transport, are widely regarded as the healthiest and most sustainable means of transport. The health benefits, and subsequent economic benefits particularly from health-related productivity, of walkable, transit orientated urban forms are well established and are measurable. The relationships between human health and transportation choices are increasingly becoming an important focus in city planning and urban design. This paper examines the relationships between human health, urban form and transport, looking at how urban form can encourage or discourage active transport and the potential human health impacts of these urban planning decisions. Urban form characteristics, such as density levels and mixed land uses, along with transportation indicators, such as vehicle kilometres travelled and access to public transport, are identified along with the provision of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. These indicators can be used to assess future and existing land use. The paper is part of a larger project looking at the development of a methodology to assess human health outcomes using transportation outputs from a typical urban development model. The paper concludes that inclusive active transport requires a number of elements, particularly planning, infrastructure, evaluation and modification. 2014 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31212 Liveable Cities restricted
spellingShingle Matan, Annie
Newman, Peter
Active transport, urban form and human health: Developing the links
title Active transport, urban form and human health: Developing the links
title_full Active transport, urban form and human health: Developing the links
title_fullStr Active transport, urban form and human health: Developing the links
title_full_unstemmed Active transport, urban form and human health: Developing the links
title_short Active transport, urban form and human health: Developing the links
title_sort active transport, urban form and human health: developing the links
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/31212