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The first overview of a now deleted federal program planning for climate change and public health: The Climate Ready State and Cities Initiative
Anthropogenic climate change is bringing with it a whole host of deleterious public health impacts. People will die and suffer disproportionately following inequitable societal structures. With every passing year time to mitigate and adapt to anthropogenic climate change slips away. The time is now to deliberately plan for the health impacts that are now ‘baked in’ for centuries to come.
The study aims at understanding the qualities of different. Although previous studies have explored the well-being-related benefits of recreational walking in nature, studies examining the perceived qualities and contextual factors of these walks are rare.
Designing for walkability: Step by step data-driven review of pedestrian built environment studies
Our study identified predominant research themes, influential publications and authors, and emerging trends in pedestrian-built environment research. A database was used to analyse publications from 1975 to 2024, identifying research gaps and charting future research directions.
Bridging mobility and equity: Rethinking safe routes to school in gentrifying communities
We investigated how Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs intersect with gentrification in Greenville’s West End by using children’s active mobility as a lens to assess community perceptions. Through observations, behavior mapping, and interviews, we explored how mobility infrastructure impacts cultural traditions and socioeconomic dynamics. This approach allowed me to uncover tensions between design intentions and community realities, providing critical insights to guide equitable, context-sensitive urban planning in rapidly changing neighborhoods.
Among the factors impacting functioning and quality of life in autism, aspects of the built environment have recently gained increasing attention. However, the opportunity of proposing a universal framework for cross-scalar examination of these factors remains largely unrealized. By narrowing the focus to public transport, a key component of urban spatial structure and urban mobility, this study explores the applicability of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) in examining the built environmental factors that influence autism.
Walkability for all in our cities
To work for the Right to Walk the City is to advocate for health and social justice. Public Health as a multidisciplinary action is fundamental to achieve that goal. The ‘15-minute city’ model exemplifies this approach but remains hindered by barriers such as inadequate infrastructure and social discrimination, limiting walkability for underserved communities.
How can we design walkable streets that promote health through nature? This scoping review synthesises international and cross-cultural research—drawing from English and Chinese studies—to clarify intervention types and health mechanisms, offering an essential evidence base for healthier, more connected urban environments. Our findings reframe streets as inclusive, restorative spaces for health—not just transport infrastructure.
From lockdowns to recovery: COVID-19’s lasting impact on cities
Before COVID-19, we freely used lively streets and public spaces. The pandemic emptied them and changed how people perceived urban life. Places once full of joy became empty and fearful. Our study examines COVID-19’s impact on three key dimensions of urban design and offers lessons for building healthier, more resilient cities.
This study investigates how severe winter conditions affect the outdoor activity of older adults in Erzurum, Türkiye—a city known for its long and harsh winters. Based on a quantitative survey with individuals aged 65 and above, a binomial logistic regression model was used to identify key predictors of outdoor activity avoidance.
Jakarta’s position in global health and sustainable city progress
This pioneering study on healthy and sustainable indicators for Jakarta is the first in Indonesia to use the Global Healthy and Sustainable City Indicators framework. As the most populous city in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, Jakarta's inclusion provides valuable insights into its status compared to 25 international cities. We offer a critical perspective on existing spatial indicators, highlighting the need for precise definitions and careful interpretation within the city's local context. Additionally, we propose new indicators to help policymakers and public health officials develop more adaptable measures for urban health and sustainability.
Our study explores how residents in Lagos and Yaoundé use roads, vacant lots, squares, and parks for running, walking, and other leisure-time physical activities. It reveals striking sex-based differences in perceived safety and risk, offering evidence to guide inclusive urban planning.
Aligning active mobility and active aging: Challenges in designing age-friendly cities in Portugal
Experts agree that the planning of public space in light of new active mobility trends and policies has not properly taken into account the active aging policies and the context of older people as users, especially in the construction of a barrier-free and safe environment. Only through the alignment of active mobility and active ageing policies is it possible to respond to the needs and to include people of all ages