Active Mobility Research Articles

Operational LCA of a street with active mobility strategies in northern México

Active mobility (AM) is a fundamental part of a sustainable mobility system that generates environmental and social advantages; however, its use and operation are understudied using quantitative tools such as life cycle assessment (LCA), especially in the Latin American context. This study aimed to analyze the use stage of a street located in Northern Mexico. Two real scenarios were compared, one conventional (CO-SC-2020) and another sustainable (SU-SC-2022), which incorporated the concept of “complete streets” through a bicycle lane and the improvement of pedestrian spaces. Available data from the “Vía Libre” project and PIMUS, as well as SIMAPRO and Ecoinvent, were used for the LCA. The results indicated that the environmental impacts derived from transportation could be reduced through strategies such as active mobility (6.55%) and carpooling (77%), favoring the conversion of cities that consider the automobile as the guiding axis to more sustainable, inclusive, and safe cities.

Smart Urban Systems Planning for Active Mobility and Sustainability

This paper bridges a crucial gap in urban transportation systems planning by exploring the integration of Active Mobility (AM) into Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), an area previously overlooked. Despite the significant benefits of walking and cycling for sustainable urban development, ITS have predominantly favored motorized traffic, neglecting AM’s potential to enhance urban sustainability and the quality of life. Based on recent advancements in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), a Smart Active Mobility development framework model is proposed, aimed at improving accessibility, connectivity, and social inclusion for people using non-motorized transport modes. The proposed model introduces a novel framework for embedding AM into urban planning, underlining its essential role in developing smart, sustainable cities. The findings reveal that implementing such a model can lead to substantial improvements in urban mobility, promoting a shift towards more inclusive, environmentally friendly, and health-promoting mobility solutions. The study underscores the imperative for urban planners and policymakers to adopt this model, highlighting the necessity of integrating AM into urban planning for a sustainable, healthy, and economically viable future.

Active mobility and mental health: A scoping review towards a healthier world.

Research has proven that engaging in active mobility (AM), namely walking and cycling for transportation, significantly enhances physical activity levels, leading to better physical health. It is still unclear whether AM could also offer any mental health benefits. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current knowledge on the relationship between AM and mental health, given its crucial role in public health. The authors searched online databases to isolate primary studies written in English involving an adult sample (16 or over). AM was the exposure factor. Many mental health elements were included as outcomes (depression, anxiety, self-esteem, self-efficacy, stress, psychological and subjective well-being, resilience, loneliness and social support, quality of life, mood, life satisfaction and sleep). The results were organised in a narrative summary per each outcome selected, graphical syntheses and an overview of gaps to be further examined. The authors identified a total of 55 papers as relevant. The results show inconsistency in study designs, definition and operationalisation of the variables, approach and methodologies used. A cross-sectional design was the dominant choice, primarily examining data from national public health surveys. Nonetheless, there has been improvement in outcomes of interests, initially mainly the quality of life and affect. Lately, authors have focused on a broader range of mental health-related factors (such as travel satisfaction). The experimental studies showed promising mental health improvements in those who used active modes more than those who used motorised vehicles. It creates a rationale for further research towards implementing a unified theoretical and methodological framework to study the link between AM and mental health. The ultimate goal is to generate solid conclusions that could support building societies and cities through public health promotion and sustainable strategies, like walking and cycling as a means of transport.

Factors Affecting Travel Behaviour Change towards Active Mobility: A Case Study in a Thai University

This study investigates the factors influencing travel behaviour change towards active mobility (AM) in the context of a suburban university in Thailand. The research framework involves developing a qualitative questionnaire for a SWOT analysis. The outcomes of this analysis inform the creation of a quantitative questionnaire called the Stated Preference Survey. This survey collects opinions from 400 randomly selected individuals representing various demographics in the study area. The collected data are then analysed using a binary logistic regression model to explore the relationship between independent variables (such as demographics, travel characteristics, and perceptions of infrastructure and amenities) and the likelihood of individuals adopting AM. The results indicate that the demographic variables, such as gender and income, played a significant role, with males and higher-income individuals showing lower likelihood of adopting AM. The presence of well-designed infrastructure with aesthetic features and rest areas along pedestrian and bicycle paths positively influenced behaviour change. Safety and security measures, including protective measures against motorcycles on pedestrian paths, installing CCTV cameras, and safe crossings, also played a crucial role. However, promotional efforts through media and applications did not significantly contribute to behaviour change. Policymakers and urban planners can use these insights to effectively encourage AM.

Cyclists, dismount – car drivers, get out and push? An (auto)ethnographic account of long-distance commuting, joy, speed, and unexpected hurdles in Dutch traffic.

The Netherlands are known for an exemplary cycle infrastructure: cycle paths all over the place, cycle traffic lights in abundance, and “cycle highways” emerging (Skov-Petersen et al., 2017; Liu et al., 2019; Cabral Dias and Gomes Ribeiro, 2020).* At the same time, the micro-managed infrastructure does not always cater to a variety of cycle styles, speeds, and distances. This does not automatically render the paradisiacal image of cycling in the Netherlands as an example for cycling elsewhere. What makes long-distance cycling so different and difficult in a country with so many cyclists? The title “cyclists dismount” symbolically illustrates the failed match of policy versus use(s): “cyclists dismount (and walk)” has no equivalent for car drivers and therewith represents a systematic priority for motorized users of public road space. This reversal is the impetus for an exploration of long-distance cycling as active mobility (AM) in order to contribute to the notion of long-distance cycling as a sustainable alternative to passive (motorized) mobility (PM).*The original title was ‘cyclists, descend’, the direct translation in Dutch. Apparently, in English, cycling language/discourse is heavily influenced by equestrian culture (with thanks to Peter Cox for pointing this out).

Cervical Spine Assessment Using Passive and Active Mobilization Recorded Through an Optical Motion Capture

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to develop and measure a protocol for evaluation of cervical range of motion (ROM), based on passive mobilization (PM) combined with active mobilization (AM) and recorded through an optical motion capture system. MethodsPassive and active mobilization were applied to 24 asymptomatic participants. Cervical ROM was recorded in 3 anatomic planes (transversal, frontal, and sagittal) using a precision optical system and a set of rigid bodies placed on the sacrum, spinous processes of the C7-T1 vertebrae, and the head. Three captures were made for each participant, distributed over 2 days. The characteristics of the PM, the interaction with the AM, and the coherence patterns between tests were analyzed. Reliability was studied for these procedures. ResultsThe reliability results of the PM were high in all analyzed indices; only flexion showed low values. Reliability of AM was greater than PM for flexion, extension, and lateralization because of the similarity to rotation. No statistically significant differences were found comparing PM and AM techniques. ConclusionThe authors present a cervical ROM assessment based on combined PM and AM protocols at different sessions. This model demonstrated high reliability, individually and combined, and no differences were detected between PM and AM ROMs. Because the evaluator, instrumentation, and the patient are factors that could influence outcomes, the authors suggest that they be combined in protocols. These protocols could be used to evaluate the functional and structural capacity of patients and inform clinical outcomes.