Active mobility

This article is about human transport systems. For transport in cellular biology, see active transport.

The urban bicycle, one of the most widespread and well-known vehicles for active mobility

Active mobility, soft mobility, active travel, active transport or active transportation is the transport of people or goods, through non-motorized means, based around human physical activity.[1] The best-known forms of active mobility are walking and cycling, though other modes include running, rowing, skateboarding, kick scooters and roller skates.[2] Due to its prevalence, cycling is sometimes considered separately from the other forms of active mobility.[3]

Public policies promoting active mobility tend to improve health indicators by increasing the levels of physical fitness and reducing the rates of obesity and diabetes,[4][5] whilst also reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and consequent carbon emissions.[6] These policies are proven to result in large increases in active transportation for commuting: for example Portland, Oregon, was able to increase bicycle use 5-fold from 1990 to 2009 with pro-cycling programs.[7] Studies have shown that city level programs are more effective than encouraging active mobility on the individual level.[8]

  1. ^ Children's Active Transportation. Elsevier. 2018. doi:10.1016/c2016-0-01988-5. ISBN 978-0-12-811931-0.
  2. ^ Cook, Simon; Stevenson, Lorna; Aldred, Rachel; Kendall, Matt; Cohen, Tom (2022). "More than walking and cycling: What is 'active travel'?". Transport Policy. 126: 151–161. doi:10.1016/j.tranpol.2022.07.015.
  3. ^ Bicycling for Transportation. Elsevier. 2018. doi:10.1016/c2016-0-03936-0. ISBN 978-0-12-812642-4.
  4. ^ Pucher, John; Buehler, Ralph; Bassett, David R.; Dannenberg, Andrew L. (1 October 2010). "Walking and Cycling to Health: A Comparative Analysis of City, State, and International Data". American Journal of Public Health. 100 (10): 1986–1992. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2009.189324. ISSN 0090-0036. PMC 2937005. PMID 20724675.
  5. ^ de Nazelle, Audrey (1 May 2011). "Improving health through policies that promote active travel: A review of evidence to support integrated health impact assessment". Environment International. 37 (4): 766–777. Bibcode:2011EnInt..37..766D. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2011.02.003. PMID 21419493.
  6. ^ Sustainable mobility in metropolitan regions : insights from interdisciplinary research for practice application. Wulfhorst, Gebhard,, Klug, S. (Stefan). Wiesbaden. 26 August 2016. ISBN 978-3-658-14428-9. OCLC 957700183.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ^ Pucher, John; Buehler, Ralph; Seinen, Mark (July 2011). "Bicycling renaissance in North America? An update and re-appraisal of cycling trends and policies". Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice. 45 (6): 451–475. doi:10.1016/j.tra.2011.03.001.
  8. ^ Audrey, Suzanne; Fisher, Harriet; Cooper, Ashley; Gaunt, Daisy; Garfield, Kirsty; Metcalfe, Chris; Hollingworth, William; Gillison, Fiona; Gabe-Walters, Marie; Rodgers, Sarah; Davis, Adrian L. (December 2019). "Evaluation of an intervention to promote walking during the commute to work: a cluster randomised controlled trial". BMC Public Health. 19 (1): 427. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6791-4. ISSN 1471-2458. PMC 6480724. PMID 31014313.