Air Quality and Active Transportation Modes: A Spatiotemporal Concurrence Analysis in Guadalajara, Mexico

The protection of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation passengers from environmental pollution is a global concern. This study fills the gap in the existing knowledge of temporal exposure to air pollution in Latin American metropolises. The paper proposes a methodology addressing the relationship between two objects of study, i.e., the users of active modes of transport and air quality. This new methodology assesses the spatiotemporal concurrence of both objects with statistical analysis of large open-access databases, to promote healthy and sustainable urban mobility. The application of the empirical methodology estimated the number of users of active transportation modes exposed to poor air quality episodes in the Guadalajara metropolitan area (Mexico) in 2019. The study considered two pollutants, ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM10), and two active modes, cycling and bus rapid transit (BRT). Spatiotemporal analyses were carried out with geographic information systems, as well as with numeric computing platforms. First, big data were used to count the number of users for each mode within the area of influence of the air quality monitoring stations. Second, the number of air pollution episodes was obtained using the air quality index proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (USA) on an hourly basis. Third, the spatiotemporal concurrence between air quality episodes and active mode users was calculated. In particular, the air quality monitoring data from the Jalisco Atmospheric Monitoring System were compared to users of the public bicycle share system, known as MiBici, and of a bus rapid transit line, known as Mi Macro Calzada. The results showed that the number of cyclists and BRT passengers exposed to poor air quality episodes was considerable in absolute terms, that is, 208,660 users, while it was marginal when compared to the total number of users exposed to better air quality categories in the study area, who represented only 10%. To apply the results at the metropolitan scale, the spatial distribution of the air quality monitoring system should be improved, as well as the availability of data on pedestrians and conventional bus passengers.

Incorporating Health-Related Criteria for Project Scoring in Massachusetts

Transportation projects can affect health through multiple pathways—for example, by degrading air quality or encouraging active transportation. There is a need to incorporate health considerations in transportation decision-making to achieve health-related community goals. This paper presents highway project scoring criteria that allow for capturing the impact of transportation projects on health. These scoring criteria are organized into five groups—air quality, accessibility, equity, physical activity, and safety—to capture the multiple pathways that transportation interacts with health. The focus of this study was on updating the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Division project scoresheet to incorporate health-related criteria. Evidence base, standards, and data needs based on which each criterion is assessed, as well as limitations, are summarized for each of the proposed criteria. The paper concludes with a discussion on the outcomes of the proposed changes as well as the transferability potential of the proposed criteria.

Transporte activo: distancia entre el hogar y la escuela (Active transportation: distance between home and school)

La distancia hacia la escuela es el principal predictor del tipo de transporte que utilicen los escolares durante su desplazamiento a la institución educativa. El objetivo de este estudio es establecer la relación entre el trasporte activo y la distancia desde el hogar al centro educativo en población estudiantil en la región caribe colombiana. El diseño es de corte transversal en 3067 escolares de básica primaria matriculados en los grados de primero a quinto; se aplicó una encuesta a los padres de familia que midió el tipo de transporte hacia el colegio, la distancia entre la casa y la escuela, al tiempo que destina cada niño durante este recorrido, la existencia de vehículos en el hogar. Se consideró transporte activo al colegio, el desplazamiento en bicicleta y caminando. El 51.3% de los escolares usa un transporte activo para desplazarse de la casa al colegio, el 36.5% reside a una distancian mayor a 1,5 km de la escuela. Es mayor la probabilidad de usar transporte pasivo en distancias mayores a 1500 metros [OR=1,55 (IC 95% 1.34-1.8)]; en recorridos mayores de 15 minutos [OR=1.25 (IC 95% 1.1-1.45)]; y cuando en la familia se tiene vehículo [OR=4.04 (IC 95% 3.4-4.7)]. El transporte activo en la etapa escolar se relaciona con la distancia que se recorre para trasladarse del hogar a la escuela diariamente. Estos resultados contribuyen a diseñar intervenciones intersectoriales e interdisciplinares que incrementen los desplazamientos de los niños hacia modos activos. Abstract. Distance to school is the main predictor of the type of transport used by schoolchildren during their trip to the educational institution. The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between active transportation and the distance from home to the educational center in the student population in the Colombian Caribbean region. The design is cross-sectional in 3,067 elementary school students enrolled in grades one through five; a survey was applied to parents that measured the type of transportation to the school, the distance between the house and the school, the time each child spends during this journey, the existence of vehicles in the home. Active transportation to school, cycling, and walking were considered. 51.3% of schoolchildren use active transportation to get from home to school, 36.5% live at a distance greater than 1.5 km from the school. The probability of using motorized transport over distances greater than 1500 meters is greater [OR = 1.55 (95% CI 1.34-1.8)]; in runs longer than 15 minutes [OR = 1.25 (95% CI 1.1-1.45)]; and when the family has a vehicle [OR = 4.04 (95% CI 3.4-4.7)]. Active transportation in the school stage is related to the distance traveled to get from home to school daily. These results contribute to designing intersectoral and interdisciplinary interventions that increase children's movements towards active modes.

Integrated Urban Mobility for Our Health and the Climate: Recommended Approaches from an Interdisciplinary Consortium

Background: The purpose of this paper is to suggest an approach to aid with the creation of an interdisciplinary team and evidence-informed solutions addressing the urban mobility challenges facing many communities. Methods: We created a local Urban Mobility Consortium with experts from different disciplines to discuss the development of healthy, accessible communities, electrification, ride-sharing, and overarching issues related to urban mobility. A workshop and survey data collected during COVID-19 are presented in this paper. Results: Several evidence-informed recommendations are provided. Broadly, these were: (1) support the creation and development of accessible and safe active-transportation infrastructure; (2) incentivize and prioritize the use of active, public, and shared transportation over use of personal vehicles; (3) ensure connectivity of active transportation infrastructure with major destinations and public transportation options; (4) work towards electrification of personal and public transportation; and (5) work across siloes to improve integrated mobility to impact climate and health related outcomes, and enhance overall efficiency. Conclusions: An integrated approach is needed to improve mobility, access, and environmental impact. This needs to be carried out in the local context and requires government and non-governmental leadership.

Investigating the Use of Active Transportation Modes Among University Employees Through an Advanced Decision Tree Algorithm

Now more than ever, the health and economic benefits of active transportation (AT) are evident and several planning efforts and programs are particularly targeted at improving active transportation options for different populations, such as students and seniors. Administrative employees at universities received less attention in the literature than other population groups.This population spends a lot of time doing sedentary activities and behaviors during their working time. Thus, the present study used a C5 decision tree to examine the usage of university employees’ AT modes when they are out of campus to get to work, shopping, and leisure. The effects of the sociodemographic and living environment of employees on their AT mode choice were also examined. According to the results, walking was the most frequently used mode to get to work and leisure and public transport was the most frequently used mode to get to shopping. Transit station conditions (25), sidewalk availability and coverage (36), and bike path availability and coverage (30) were the most important factors in the use of AT modes by employees to get to work, shop, and leisure, respectively. Furthermore, several decision rules were extracted from the C5 tree, which included combinations of multiple factors.KEYWORDS: Active transportation, mode choice, university employees, trip purposes, C5

The 2019 Conference on Health and Active Transportation: Research Needs and Opportunities

Active transportation (AT) is widely viewed as an important target for increasing participation in aerobic physical activity and improving health, while simultaneously addressing pollution and climate change through reductions in motor vehicular emissions. In recent years, progress in increasing AT has stalled in some countries and, furthermore, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created new AT opportunities while also exposing the barriers and health inequities related to AT for some populations. This paper describes the results of the December 2019 Conference on Health and Active Transportation (CHAT) which brought together leaders from the transportation and health disciplines. Attendees charted a course for the future around three themes: Reflecting on Innovative Practices, Building Strategic Institutional Relationships, and Identifying Research Needs and Opportunities. This paper focuses on conclusions of the Research Needs and Opportunities theme. We present a conceptual model derived from the conference sessions that considers how economic and systems analysis, evaluation of emerging technologies and policies, efforts to address inclusivity, disparities and equity along with renewed attention to messaging and communication could contribute to overcoming barriers to development and use of AT infrastructure. Specific research gaps concerning these themes are presented. We further discuss the relevance of these themes considering the pandemic. Renewed efforts at research, dissemination and implementation are needed to achieve the potential health and environmental benefits of AT and to preserve positive changes associated with the pandemic while mitigating negative ones.