Supporting Mobility Across European Cities Through Physically Active-Friendly Urban Environments
Supporting Mobility Across European Cities Through Physically Active-Friendly Urban Environments
Supporting Mobility Across European Cities Through Physically Active-Friendly Urban Environments
com/press
ISSN (Print: 2537-0154, online: 2537-0162)
Keywords Abstract
Action Plan; Active Active transport i.e. cycling or walking as well as using public transport for everyday
transport; physical journeys is an effective approach with multiple social and environmental benefits for
activity; policy transforming urban environments into active urban environments. Although cycling and
intervention; UActivE;
urban active
walking often remain on the margins of transport planning and infrastructure, there are
environments. new approaches emerging along with policies relevant to the creation of urban
environments conducive to active travel.
Interventions and policies for developing physically active-friendly environments across
towns and cities in Europe are central to facilitating the promotion of physical activity
and sustainable transport among the local population. A 3-year Erasmus+ project called
SPAcE (Supporting Policy and action for Active Environments) involves local
government partners and an NGO developing policies and interventions to promote
physically active-friendly environments in five European towns/cities: Latvia [Tukums],
Italy [Palermo], Romania [Brasov], Spain [Toledo] and Greece [Trikala]. The project has
focused on cities with recorded low physical activity levels.
5 working groups across these towns/cities have started co-production to develop Urban
Active Environments (UActivE) Action Plans aimed at influencing policy and practice
for active transport programmes promoting the use of cycling and walking. Action plans
are based on international guidance for healthy urban planning as remaining project
partners include universities and an NGO who have provided support, advice and
mentoring. Cooperation and co-production with public health professionals, local
government officers, education authorities and transport agencies is a key approach to the
project.
Creating sustainable active urban environments is a key to healthier, cleaner, and
economically successful cities. This goal can be reached by increased carbon-free forms
of transportation such as walking and cycling. The SPAcE project aims to capture both
the challenges and solutions for the development of active transport in urban spaces
translating evidence into policy and practice and ensuring innovation at the policy level.
Launched in January 2015, SPAcE aims to develop policies and interventions across five European cities in the form
of an Action Plan (an Urban Environment Action Plan [UActivE]) to promote physical activity-friendly
environments and to learn from policy and best practice implemented across the different European cities.
In redesigning urban environments for active transport, project partners have adopted the following definition of
‘active environments’:
“physical or social environments that provide positive encouragement in helping people to be physically active, and
to make the active choice.”
The 5 specific sites led by the local government and nonprofit organizations include Tukums (Latvia), Palermo
(Italy), Brasov (Romania), Castilla-La Mancha (Spain) and Trikala (Greece). The remaining project partners include
higher education institutions (Gloucestershire, Oxford, Zurich, Thessaly) and non-profit government-funded
organization (Fit for Life national physical activity promotion program Finland) who each provide specialist support
and advice in the development of the UActivE Action Plan incorporating current evidence, healthy urban planning
and mentoring.
To summarise, 10 institutions from 8 European countries make up the SPAcE consortium which is comprised of:
- University of Gloucestershire (UK – Coordinator),
- University of Oxford (UK),
- University of Thessaly (Greece),
- University of Zurich (Switzerland),
- Fit for Life Program, LIKES Foundation for Sport and Health Science (Finland),
- Castilla La Mancha Regional Government of Education (Spain),
- Tukums Municipality (Latvia),
- Brasov Metropolitan Agency (Romania),
- CESIE (Italy),
- The Municipality of Trikala (Greece).
They are in line with numerous other World Health Organisation (WHO), EU and national policy documents that
support the use of an integrated approach to intervention design, development and implementation such as the EU
White Paper: A Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity; EU White Paper; Promoting Healthy
Diets and Physical Activity; EU Workplan for Sport 2011-2014. The project also exchanges with relevant WHO
activities and networks, HEPA Europe, and national and regional governments of the partner countries in order to
support the activities across the partner countries and to support the sustainability of the methodology and key
findings into policy across Europe to encourage local communities to take part in physical activity as part of their
everyday life.
This paper will present the methodology and the main results achieved during the SPAcE project to support the
facilitation of physical activity-friendly urban environments through the development of UActivE. It will review
the effective multi-layered approaches in combining research and practice from challenges and solutions sought to
develop and integrate policy and intervention into action at a local level in order to transform urban environments.
The 5 UActivE Action Plans presented, each one diverse in specific goals and intervention priorities will
demonstrate the different strategies, tools and policy approach to promote active transport in European cities and
towns. The complexities of the different environments presented and planning through co-production and
collaboration at different levels of public policy and community participation, reviewing both physical and social
environments will be discussed. Conclusions will be drawn from the lessons learned from the final results and
through the tested model for creating sustainable urban active environments. Furthermore, future directions for
collaborative research and practice in the field of UActivE will be presented.
The UActivE concept in promoting physical activity in social and built environments
UActivE has been designed to help organizations and the local population increase physical activity of the involved
communities and support and encourage social inclusion through more active participation in their local
environment. Evidence-based local policy intervention strategies have been brought to the forefront in new
approaches relevant to the diversity of the cities involved and stimulated enhanced participation in physical activity
through the promotion across local communities and at the policy level of the concept of UActivE. The
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Rosina U. Ndukwe / The Academic Research Community Publication
methodology adopted for developing and implementing UActivE can help to develop a change in culture across
the population where physical activity and an active lifestyle becomes both the easier and the preferred choice.
The concept of UActivE has been defined in the following characteristics:
- UActivE Action Plan which is defined as a model for developing an urban Active Environment is a co-produced
comprehensive plan which includes a vision for the future. The plan aims to achieve that vision. It details actions
and specific goals for a specific setting and/or population groups, for example, children/schools, urban town
center/community.
The review of both the built environment and social environment is central to the Action Plan and its
implementation. Built environments can include a town center with reduced car access, cycling/pedestrian
infrastructure, parks and green spaces, free outdoor exercise equipment, school playgrounds, etc. Social
environments can include policies at local or national government level that actively prioritize physical activity
including walking and cycling campaigns, social media that actively promotes physical activity.
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3.1 Environments for physical activity in Europe: A review of Evidence and Examples of Practice
The development of tangible outputs which are central to support the development and sustainability of the Action
Plans have ensured a review of research, practice, and lessons learned from the Plans development. The aim of the
Summary of Evidence and Good Practice report was to provide an explanation of how an Active Environment
Action Plan can be developed, drawing on the good practice and learning from the SPAcE project. It includes an
explanation of how to develop an Action Plan, what it needs to include and summary examples of five action plans
from the SPAcE implementation sites.
In the development of UActivE, the partnership has carried out an extensive scoping exercise of evidence and good
practices across all partner countries. Firstly through research carried out in their respective countries on different
case studies which demonstrate examples of urban active environments and specific challenges that have been
overcome. Scientific evidence on the influence of the environment on physical activity was identified as relevant
and realistic good practice examples. Three examples per partner were characterized in detail to serve as knowledge
pool for the development of the individual UActivE Action Plans. Secondly through a large scale event - Learning
and Sharing of Good Practice Symposium and Workshop took place in Palermo (Italy) in October 2015 to facilitate
the sharing of practice, experience and knowledge across partners and workshop on UActivE Action Plans and
case studies selected.
As a result of the evidence collected, the partnership produced the EU UActivE Summary of Evidence and Good
Practice document led by The University of Oxford.
3.2 Collaborative working to develop UActivE
Working Groups have been established in each of the 5 sites which were made of key professionals in the field of
policy, regional government, transport planning and development, sustainable mobility, health officials and local
community beneficiaries. Working Groups led the process of the Plans development together with partners to
ensure their relevance to policy and community needs. Collaboration with the working groups took place through
meetings, action planning events, and community consultation. It is worth noting that the strategic partners and
organizations which formed the working groups have been crucial in ensuring the Action Plans relevance and
sustainability.
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Tukums, In motion in Goal 1: Develop the infrastructure for safe pedestrian flow in the town
Latvia Tukums!
- Identifying the pedestrian flow in the town, 2017
- Develop the plan of infrastructure for safe pedestrian flow, 2017
- Create the infrastructure for safe pedestrian flow, 2018.
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Figure 1 - Tukums town map with reduced speed areas, bicycle path, and location of sports infrastructure.
5.2 Palermo
Palermo is the capital of the Sicilian region of Italy and the Province of Palermo. It is located in the northwest of
the island of Sicily, and is the 5th most populated city in Italy, with an urban area of 855,285 inhabitants. Although
Palermo has many beautiful tourist attractions, it also has problems. The development and facilitation of active
environments are hindered due to lack of green spaces and parks. 60% of Palermitans are dissatisfied with the lack
of green spaces. The action plan and its development have been facilitated by CESIE.
Table 2 – Summary of the UActivE Action Plan realized in Palermo, Italy
Action Plan
Vision Characteristics
Case study
Goal 1: Urban Trails - Urban trekking from home to school
School children as a group walk from home to school led by school leaders
(teachers, educators, and youth workers) who would be “Urban Trail Guides”.
Children collaborate with their teachers in planning the walking bus using
historical routes.
- 4 routes identified & designed and classroom activities to be developed
for the identified routes
- 12 schools signed up to the Urban Trails programme
- At least 1000 school children with support from parents to participate in
the walking activities
Palermo – home
of active and
Palermo, Italy Goal 2: Active School Districts
healthy school
- Increase in the number of school sports facilities made available for use
communities
after school hours for school children to facilitate physical activity.
- Develop partnerships between schools, agencies and local associations
to develop specific activities
- Activities. with parents, families and wider school community to raise
awareness about the potential use of shared school facilities.
- At least 10 schools signed up to take part in the Active School Districts
from 4 main areas in Palermo.
- Set up of after-school activity programmes in which at least 1000 school
children with support from parents access to school sports facilities after
school hours
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Goal 2: The extension of the bike paths network (and related infrastructure) by
2023
Goal 3: The creation of recreational facilities for bicycle users.
- Elaborating the design themes to carry out the technical and economic
documentation (feasibility studies)
- The launch of the tenders documentation (including the application form -
if the investment is based on the Structural Funds)
- Receiving the technical and economic documentation and the submission
of the application form (if the investment is made through Structural
Funds)
- Contracting the necessary funds for the investment (if the investmentpg.is7
made through Structural Funds)
- The launch of the tender for the investment
- Projects implementation
Rosina U. Ndukwe / The Academic Research Community Publication
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area resides only less than 14% of the total population. Santa María de Benquerencia neighborhood is the most
populated area of the municipality and, it is located 8 km away from the old town. It is characterized by a duality
of an industrial and residential area, and it has grown a lot during the last years. The action plan and its
development have been facilitated by Castilla La Mancha Regional Government of Education.
Table 4 – Summary of the UActivE Action Plan realized in Castilla la Mancha, Spain
Goal 4: Increase awareness and educate the population and social agents.
- Communication campaign
- Basic courses for active mobility
- To disseminate the project within the autonomic community.
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Region of Thessaly. The Municipality of Trikala consists of the city of Trikala and another 39 small settlements.
It covers a total area of 608.48 square kilometers. The city of Trikala constitutes the urban center of a predominantly
agricultural and stockbreeding area. The main financial, cultural, leisure, sport and other activities of the of the
Prefecture are concentrated here. The action plan and its development have been facilitated by The Municipality
of Trikala with support from the University of Thessaly.
Table 5 – Summary of the UActivE Action Plan realized in Trikala, Greece
Action Plan Vision Characteristics
Case study
Trikala, Eliminate all car-use Goal 1: Improvement and extension of the current cycling paths
Greece from the extended network.
city center
- Survey on cyclists to include HEAT related data.
converting all
current roads to - The launch of the ring cycle lane in the city center.
pedestrian and
- Recording on use of current cycle lanes (no of cyclists/per week).
introducing cycling
lanes. - Production and distribution of a City Map marking Cycling and
Walking Paths.
- Digital Application for Cycling and Walking.
- Promotional Campaign for cycling targeting women.
- Study on cyclist’s perceptions and recording a cycling lanes use.
- Launch event of the Action Plan & Results of 2 HEAT studies in the
context of SPACE.
- Technical Study for the improvement and extension of current cycling
lanes based on current SPACE document.
- Public consultation and review of the technical study.
- Implementation: the improvement and extension of current cycling
lanes.
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Conclusions
A clear need for active transport to facilitate physical activity in urban environments has been identified developing
the Space project. There is already policy and practice in the area of creating Active Urban Environments (see, for
example, WHO Developing national action plans on transport, health and environment, 2014, and some excellent
examples of good practice of infrastructure projects (more detail provided in E.3)), but much of the implementation
is not consistent. Although some good practice exists, the reality is that many towns and cities across the EU do
not have the resources to implement many of the suggested policies and practices or access to the required
expertise. The SPAcE project addresses this economic challenge by combining academic, policy and practice
experienced partners with partners who have identified their own need to develop a more enhanced active urban
environment. The project focuses on transferring EU and national policies into local Action Plans and
implementation, resulting in guidance documents and a media resource to support the sustainability of ‘how to do
it’ beyond the lifetime of the project.
The examples of practice document which was a catalyst for the Action Plans development, show vast diversity in
approaches to promoting physical activity through modifications to different social, natural and built environments.
While some cities choose to tackle the challenge of road transport, others promoted physical activity through sport
and recreation. However, the examples of practice also demonstrate some of the problems and challenges that need
to be overcome to create active environments.
The Action Plans are a reflection of the different environments and approaches which although have similar
overall objectives, show the needs in their own local environments for change and have successfully translated
these needs to key goals that can be implemented within policy and intervention strategies. For enhancing,
promoting and redesigning active travel programmes in urban environments, these Plans can be used as key
examples of how co-production can support the transformation of cities for e.g. mobility infrastructure to develop
bike and pedestrian paths for residents, facilitating physical activity within the school environment to address
childhood overweight and obesity. Importantly, results have provided some lessons learned from the process of
the UActivE Action Plan development in order to support other cities and regions to develop a UActivE. Lessons
learned from results include:
- The process of critical review of the draft plans was helpful in developing the Plan.
- Convening a working group of local stakeholders to develop the UActiveE Action Plan and where possible,
co-produced the Plan. Whilst this process of consultation and engagement was familiar to most of the case
study sites, the development of a detailed Action Plan focussing on the active environment was a new
experience.
- The constitution of the steering group was critical: in many sites, it was easy to find interested parties (e.g.
cycling groups) but harder to convince influential politicians or decision-makers to become involved.
- Money is a critical barrier: while some sites produced ambitious plans, they worry they may not be funded.
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- Cycling seemed to be a more prominent focus compared to walking, perhaps because the infrastructure is
more distinct and the advocacy groups more visible.
Next steps will include the review of the Action Plans priorities, dialogue for policy intervention and advocacy in
assessing the economic value of the plans in reference to the Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT). Expert
input and review which have been supporting partners to developing competencies in the assessment of value of
the UActivE Action Plan through training in the use of HEAT and at the end of the project inform policy through
specific key messages and evidence-based results to demonstrate the potential economic value of each Action Plan
and its impact on the urban environment. Further outputs will include a Guidance document ‘How to Create and
Evaluate an UActivE’ including case studies from project partners and: ‘How to’ guidance on measuring value of
an UActivE to ensure practice and lessons learnt from the Plans development will be available at EU level to a
wide range of interested stakeholders informing policy and action. How can we collaborate further to address
challenges and develop solutions in promoting physical activity through active transport?
Acknowledgments
The project SPAcE – Supporting Policy and Action for Active Environments is co-founded by the Erasmus+
programme of the European Union (Sport: Collaborative partnerships).
The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of
the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any
use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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