Natural experiments in urban air quality in Rwanda

To understand the current drivers of air pollution, we used two natural experiments (Car-Free Day and COVID-19 Lockdown) to examine their impact on air pollution using particulate matter air pollution data in Kigali City. The health impact of non-motorized transport events in Kigali, known as ‘Car-Free Days,’ goes beyond just mass physical exercise. Importantly, it has reduced air pollution by 15%, this is expected to save more than 200 disability-adjusted life years annually.

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Want diversity? Collaborate and plan with members from equity-deserving groups 

People from equity-deserving groups have unique needs, barriers, and priorities that need to be addressed in order to create inclusive and accessible active transportation. This paper highlights some of the complexities of planning for different cultures, languages, ages, and abilities. Recommendations are made to support municipalities with creating better active transportation infrastructure and policies.

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Urban design as an antidote to loneliness?

Recognizing the challenges of social isolation and loneliness among the aging population; research attention is turning to explore the social dimension of urban design and questions of how the built environment can support social interaction. In the rapidly evolving context of transit-based urbanism, urban spaces not only enhance the city’s overall livability but also offer older adults increased accessibility and interaction opportunities beyond their immediate residential neighbourhood, potentially alleviating feelings of social isolation and loneliness.

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Bio-reconciliation: Dialectics for healthier, equitable urban futures – Biophilia and Biophobia

I diagnose urbanization’s toll: 60% of city dwellers face stress-related morbidity, which biophilic design aims to curb; yet my 100-study review reveals biophobia’s backlash, like glare spiking cortisol 10%. This dialectic, rooted in evolutionary and urban disconnect, exacerbates health inequities e.g., 30% higher stress in underserved areas —demanding my evidence-based, Hegelian synthesis to recalibrate architecture for resilience.

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Where do older people in China want to live as they grow old?

The image of older people in China preferring to live with their children is not uniformly the case, particularly for those with the most resources, and with fewest. Not enough is known about preferences for what kinds of places older Chinese want to live in, including the design, location, and tenure of homes.

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How caste and neighbourhood environment shape health inequality in India’s Tier-II cities

Caste and environment intersect to shape urban health inequities in Indian cities. Based on fieldwork in Aligarh, this study uncovers how lower-caste households are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards and denied equitable healthcare. I conducted a mixed-methods study of 1,650 households in Aligarh to examine the relationship between caste, environmental conditions, and health. Using correlation analysis and spatial mapping, I identified patterns of environmental risk and unequal access to healthcare services. The findings urge inclusive urban health planning that prioritizes caste-aware environmental justice.

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