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The Healthy and Sustainable City—Influences of the Built Environment on Active Travel

Author

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  • Kerstin Kopal

    (Department of Structural Engineering, Institute of Mobility and Urban Planning, University of Duisburg Essen, 40219 Essen, Germany)

  • Dirk Wittowsky

    (Department of Structural Engineering, Institute of Mobility and Urban Planning, University of Duisburg Essen, 40219 Essen, Germany)

Abstract

The city’s built environment and functionality play a crucial role in shaping individual mobility patterns, impacting the overall health and quality of life of its population. Understanding these influences is an important research topic, making it a central focus of this paper. This study aims to identify the factors responsible for promoting healthy mobility behavior. To address this comprehensively, a multidisciplinary empirical survey was developed based on the “Triad”—a model consisting of the built environment, mobility(-behavior), and public health. In addition to the evaluation of socio-demographic factors and activity radius mapping, statistical analyses like multiple linear regression were used. These statistical analyses allow the assessment of the impact of various independent variables on the promotion of healthy mobility behavior within urban settings. The multiple regression shows that the satisfaction with the accessibility of public transport and the sense of safety as a cyclist contribute to explaining the variation of healthy mobility. Furthermore, the satisfaction with walking in the neighborhood and the inhalation of exhaust fumes while walking also seem to have an impact. The results show the link between the Triad and make it clear that mobility planning and urban planning must take a more integrated approach to promote health and simultaneously protect the climate.

Suggested Citation

  • Kerstin Kopal & Dirk Wittowsky, 2023. "The Healthy and Sustainable City—Influences of the Built Environment on Active Travel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:19:p:14655-:d:1256380
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bojing Liao & Pauline E. W. van den Berg & Pieter J. V. van Wesemael & Theo A. Arentze, 2020. "How Does Walkability Change Behavior? A Comparison between Different Age Groups in the Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Macintyre, Sally & Ellaway, Anne & Cummins, Steven, 2002. "Place effects on health: how can we conceptualise, operationalise and measure them?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 55(1), pages 125-139, July.
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    1. Aprigliano, Vicente & Toro, Catalina & Rojas, Gonzalo & Barros, Gabriel & Fukushi, Mitsuyoshi & Seriani, Sebastian, 2024. "Effects of the built environment and sociodemographic factors on accessibility in the city of Valparaíso, Chile," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).

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