What determines better neighbouring among affordable housing residents in Metro Vancouver, Canada

At the intersection of urban and public health policy, the success of higher-density affordable housing solutions to serve an inclusive well-being agenda depends upon reducing the association of these lifestyles and built environments with loneliness and social isolation. We construct a pro-neighbouring index and test its predictors using an ordinal logistic regression model based on resident survey data.

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A framework to integrate health into urban climate policies: A city-level approach for better planning

Urban planning significantly impacts public health, yet health considerations are often overlooked in city development strategies. Climate change further exacerbates urban health risks, particularly in vulnerable regions. Despite growing recognition of the link between urban planning and health, cities lack structured methodologies to quantify and integrate health-related data into policy. Without systematic approach, cities struggle to identify disparities, allocate resources effectively, and create health-resilient urban environments. Addressing this gap is critical for sustainable urban development.

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Lessons from a car-free settlement for child-friendly urban mobility

Our study focuses on active and independent mobility of children in a car-free settlement which can be promising for developing policies for a child-friendly urban future and mobility justice for children. The outputs of this study can bridge the gap between vehicle-oriented and non-vehicle-oriented settlements and enable the transfer of good experiences.

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Paving the way for active mobility: Insights from Brussels and Malta

How can cities like Brussels and Malta overcome barriers to active mobility and create healthier, more sustainable urban environments? Discover the challenges, strategies, and key insights from local stakeholders on paving the way for a transformative future of mobility. Through interviews with key stakeholders, we explore solutions like citizen involvement and organisational changes that can drive urban transformation and support sustainable, active mobility.

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Using children’s travel and neighbourhood experiences to design walkable and inclusive cities. 

We worked with 82 primary school children (aged 9-10) from four schools and neighbourhoods in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Through focus group discussions, we asked them to share their travel experience in their neighbourhoods. Using age-appropriate maps and playful stickers, we gathered insights into their experiences, to identify patterns in what children need from their neighbouhoods. In addition, we mapped their comments to specific locations to better understand the relationships between the built environment features and children’s experiences.

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The role of Walkable Cities in improving health, rights, and climate issues from the point of view of citizens

For perestrain-friendly cities, many studies have tried to show the positive outcomes with different quantitative and qualitative analyses worldwide. However, there are almost no studies that focus on citizens’ points of view and how they experience these positive outcomes. Our study aims to fill this gap. We show that designing walkable cities can change people’s perception of space and have positive effects.

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Community voices on outdoor gyms: A qualitative study among municipal officials and residents from Arab localities in Israel

We interviewed ten municipal officials and 23 residents in four Arab towns, and observed five outdoor gyms. We wanted to understand how outdoor gyms are perceived, what barriers limit their use, and what strategies could make them more effective. This was the first study of its kind in Arab towns in Israel, but it also speaks to underserved communities worldwide where informal urban development and limited resources shape access to healthy environments.

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Designing and implementing nature-based intervention, for the health of our community

Do we have the potential to combat childhood obesity rates with nature based programs? How does the design of community-based programming play a role?
Our study, analyzing 4,010 articles, reveals nature-based interventions promote healthy living. Focusing on community engagement and program gaps, our research highlights innovative strategies for healthier children. A collaborative approach offers new hope in addressing this global health challenge.

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