Transport and Health Science Group

Environmental Research volume 137  February 2015, Pages 136–140

Highlights

• The results obtained tend to question the WHO health protection threshold values.
• This study highlights the importance of traffic noise to the health in large cities.
• These results serve to highlight the need to implement noise-abatement measures.

 Abstract

The relationship between environmental noise and health has been examined in depth. In view of the sheer number of persons exposed, attention should be focused on road traffic noise.

The city of Madrid (Spain) is a densely populated metropolitan area in which 80% of all environmental noise exposure is attributed to traffic.

The aim of this study was to quantify avoidable deaths resulting from reducing the impact of equivalent diurnal noise levels (LeqD) on daily cardiovascular and respiratory mortality among people aged ≥65 years in Madrid.

A health impact assessment of (average 24 h) LeqD and PM_2.5 levels was conducted by using previously reported risk estimates of mortality rates for the period 2003–2005:

For cardiovascular causes: LeqD 1.048 (1.005, 1.092) and PM_2.5 1.041(1.020, 1.062)

Respiratory causes: LeqD 1.060 (1.000, 1.123) and PM_2.5 1.030 (1.000, 1.062). The association found between LeqD exposure and mortality for both causes suggests an important health effect.

A reduction of 1 dB(A) in LeqD implies an avoidable annual mortality of 284 (31, 523) cardiovascular- and 184 (0, 190) respiratory-related deaths in the study population.

The magnitude of the health impact is similar to reducing average PM_2.5levels by 10 µg/m³. Regardless of air pollution, exposure to traffic noise should be considered an important environmental factor having a significant impact on health.

Pay wall: for full article click here

The promotion of active travel is one of the most effective ways to promote physical activity because it can be built into people’s daily lives. There is evidence from around the world, reviewed in Health on the Move 2 
that people who commute by walking or by cycle are healthier than people who commute by car, and that those who commute by public transport have rates intermediate between the two, because of the walk to the station or bus stop.

If physical activity were a drug then the range of its benefits on mental well being, mental illness, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and osteoporosis is such that no politician would dare withhold those benefits from the public. At a time when the NHS struggles to cope with the pressures of mental illness, obesity and diabetes, it is financially irresponsible to fail to promote physical activity.

Transport has an important role in physical activity and to fully develop that role it is necessary to
- develop walkable neighborhood’s so that people can make short journeys on foot. The walkability of a neighborhoods is a combination of security, aesthetic attractiveness and the distance on foot between different facilities, heart disease rates have shown to be lower in mixed neighborhood’s where workplaces, housing and shops mingle rather than being widely separated.

• Develop cycle networks which allow people to make medium length journeys by cycle without mingling with heavy traffic on busy main roads.
• Promote the train/cycle combination as a transport mode competitive with the car for longer journeys.
• The walkability of a neighborhoods is a combination of security, aesthetic attractiveness and the distance on foot between different facilities, heart disease rates have shown to be lower in mixed neighborhood’s where workplaces, housing and shops mingle rather than being widely separated.

Evidence by THSG to Health Study Group to the Health Select Committee inquiry into physical activity 2014

Volume 1  – Issue 4 – December 2014

Walking & Cycling: The contributions of health and transport geography

Active transport: Why and where do people (not) walk or cycle?

Seraphim Alvanides

The marginalisation of bicycling in Modernist urban transport planning

Till Koglin, Tom Rye

Highlights

• It is shown that the dominance of motorised transport in urban areas is related to theories of transport.
• Modernism is identified as a key factor that has contributed to an automobile-dependent society.
• Theoretical developments in transport planning are analysed and compared to those in bicycle planning.
• A politics of vélomobility as theoretical concept for planning for cyclists is proposed.

What limits the pedestrian? Exploring perceptions of walking in the built environment and in the context of every-day life

David Lindelöw, Åse Svensson, Catharina Sternudd, Maria Johansson

Highlights

• Walkability research needs to take limitations due to every-day activities into account.
• A conceptual model describing the role of the built environment and of limits due to every-day activities for walking was used as a standpoint for theoretical and empirical analysis.
• Respondents’ perceptions of their walking resembled our theoretical interpretation.
• Perceived limits on walking due to every-day activities were significantly related to walking frequency.

Spatial and social variations in cycling patterns in a mature cycling country exploring differences and trends

Lucas Harms, Luca Bertolini, Marco te Brömmelstroet

Highlights

• Dutch cycling patterns and trends vary across social and spatial contexts.
• Cycling levels are rising in urban areas and declining in rural areas.
• Cycling is especially increasing amongst the elderly.
• Adults with non-western migrant background cycle less than adults of Dutch origin.
• Cycling policies are often insensitive to these social and spatial differences.

History, risk, infrastructure: perspectives on bicycling in the Netherlands and the UK  

Malcolm J. Wardlaw

Open Access

Highlights

• This Viewpoint compares the histories of bicycle use in the Netherlands and the UK since 1950.
• Reasons for differences in political attitudes towards bicycling are proposed.
• Bicycle safety in NL and UK has been compared over time, and by age group.
• The effects of infrastructure, or the lack of it, on the use and safety of bicycling have been reviewed.
• The comparison yields lessons that are relevant to the UK situation of stagnation at low levels of bicycle use.

The link between socioeconomic position, access to cycling infrastructure and cycling participation rates: An ecological study in Melbourne, Australia

Chance Pistoll, Anna Goodman

Highlights

• Local densities of cycling infrastructure in Melbourne predict cycle modal share.
• Richer areas have more off-road cycle paths, but not more on-road cycle lanes.
• Even among poorer areas, some enjoy much better infrastructure and funding than others.
• The successful local cycling policies in these areas may hold valuable wider lessons.

‘You feel unusual walking’: The invisible presence of walking in four English cities

Colin G Pooley, Dave Horton, Griet Scheldeman, Caroline Mullen, Tim Jones, Miles Tight

Highlights

• Attitudes to walking in urban areas were researched using qualitative methods.
• Many people are discouraged from walking for everyday journeys.
• This is mainly due to concerns about safety and lack of time.
• A major factor is the lack of visibility of walking in the urban environment.
• The needs of pedestrians should be more fully incorporated into urban planning.

Active transport, independent mobility and territorial range among children residing in disadvantaged areas

Alison Carver, Jenny Veitch, Shannon Sahlqvist, David Crawford, Clare Hume

Highlights

• Active transport to school (ATS) is a low-cost source of physical activity (PA).
• A dose–response association existed between weekly durationof ATS and PA.
• Only a third of children were allowed to roam more than 15 mins’ walk from home.
• Accessible destinations are important for promoting children׳s territorial range.

An evaluation of distance estimation accuracy and its relationship to transport mode for the home-to-school journey by adolescents

Catherine B. Woods, Norah M. Nelson

Highlights

• Many adolescents are inactive and could gain health benefits from actively commuting to school.
• Perceptions of distance are a barrier to choosing to actively commute for this age group.
• Adolescents who walk to school accurately estimate the distance they travel each day.
• Adolescents who are driven to school inaccurately over-estimate their trip distance.
• Teaching accurate estimation of walking distance and trip time may help reduce inactivity.

Commentary on an evaluation of distance estimation accuracy and its relationship to transportation mode for the home-to-school journey by adolescents

Cody R. Evers, Deb Johnson-Shelton

They go straight home – don’t they? Using global positioning systems to assess adolescent school-travel patterns

Christine Voss, Meghan Winters, Amanda D. Frazer, Heather A. McKay

School travel planning in Canada: Identifying child, family, and school-level characteristics associated with travel mode shift from driving to active school travel

George Mammen, Michelle R. Stone, Ron Buliung, Guy Faulkner

Highlights

• This novel study examined child, family, and school-level characteristics associated with mode change from driving to active school travel one-year after a school travel planning intervention.
• 17% of parents reported that their child was being driven less to and from school as a result of the intervention.
• Students in higher elementary grades, living less than 3 km from school, attending urban and suburban schools and attending schools situated in a medium income neighborhood were more likely to change mode from driving to active school travel.

Modelling the potential impact on CO₂ emissions of an increased uptake of active travel for the home to school commute using individual level data

Nick Bearman, Alex D. Singleton

Open Access Article

Highlights

• Active travel for the home to school commute is crucial for pupils’ health.
• Criterion distances usefully quantify how far pupils are expected to travel.
• Three scenarios of increased uptake of active travel are evaluated.
• Impact on criterion distances, mean distance and CO₂emissions are discussed.

Evaluating artificial neural networks for predicting minute ventilation and lung deposited dose in commuting cyclists

Marguerite Nyhan, Aonghus McNabola, Bruce Misstear

Highlights

• We develop a model to predict cyclist minute ventilation in an urban outdoor setting.
• We measure breathing rate, weather, air pollution, cycling style and road topography.
• We compared the artificial neural network (ANN) to four other models.
• Results show the ANN model best predicts cyclist minute ventilation.
• Lung deposited doses were determined using modelled minute ventilation.

Variations in active transport behavior among different neighborhoods and across adult life stages

Lars B. Christiansen, Thomas Madsen, Jasper Schipperijn, Annette K. Ersbøll, Jens Troelsen

Highlights

• European based research with high level of active transport.
• Self-selection preferences across three adult life stage are presented.
• Associations between neighborhood walkability and transport modes.
• Higher level of active transport in high walkable neighborhoods after adjusting.
• Young adults and respondents with lower income was less affected by walkability.

Community design, street networks, and public health

Wesley E. Marshall, Daniel P. Piatkowski, Norman W. Garrick

Highlights

• We test the link between community design and public health via a multilevel model.
• We include a more robust evaluation of street networks than used in health research.
• Outcomes include: obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and asthma.
• We control for the food environment, land uses, commute, SES, and street design.
• More compact street networks with smaller major roads are correlated with better health.

A transport and health geography perspective on walking and cycling

Lisa Davison, Angela Curl

Highlights

• Explores the geographical understanding of the health benefits of active travel.
• Critiques for health and transport geographer contribution to a conference session.
• Critiques for health and transport geographer contribution to a conference session.
• Emphasises the potential contributions of geographers to the field of study.

Editorial

Jennifer S. Mindell

Excess passenger weight impacts on US transportation systems fuel use (1970–2010)

Michelle Tom, Paul Fischbeck, Chris Hendrickson

Highlights

• We estimate excess passenger weight in US transportation systems from 1970 to 2010.
• We determine excess passenger weight impacts on US transportation systems.
• We quantify fuel use, GHG emissions, and fuel costs due to excess passenger weight.
• Impacts for light-duty vehicles, transit systems, and passenger aircraft are studied.
• Since 1970, 1.1% of transportation fuel use has been due to excess passenger weight.

Can social marketing make 20 mph the new norm?

Sarah Toy, Alan Tapp, Charles Musselwhite, Adrian Davis

Highlights

• 20 mph speed limits (and 30 kph limits) are increasing in importance as they roll out across the UK and Europe.
• Attitudinal support is high in the UK but there are concerns about driver non-compliance.
• Social marketing approaches may be helpful in influencing behaviour.
• Interventions may be best deployed across different segments of the population in different ways.
• A ‘diffusion’ model may be appropriate, in which ‘pragmatic’/mainstream drivers are influenced to conform because they perceive 20 mph limits as ‘normal’.

Effects of a Danish multicomponent physical activity intervention on active school transport

Lars B. Christiansen, Mette Toftager, Annette K. Ersbøll, Jens Troelsen

Highlights

• Evaluation of a multicomponent intervention on active school transport (AST).
• Baseline AST, perceived route safety and attitude towards cycling was veryhigh.
• The proportion of active trips was 87% at follow-up with no intervention effect.
• Lack of effect was due to both incomplete implementation and high baseline level.
• A trend towards effect was seen for attitude and parental encouragement.

A biographical approach to studying individual change and continuity in walking and cycling over the life course

Heather Jones, Kiron Chatterjee, Selena Gray

Highlights

• Individual change and stability in walking and cycling is poorly understood.
• Retrospective methods offer a life course perspective on these behaviours.
• We present a novel application of a biographical approach on the topic.
• Longitudinal typologies reveal common and distinct trajectories of walking and cycling.
• Findings can inform policy to support life-long walking and cycling.

High group level validity but high random error of a self-report travel diary, as assessed by wearable cameras

P.Kelly, A. Doherty, A. Mizdrak, S. Marshall, J. Kerr, A. Legge, S. Godbole, H. Badland, M. Oliver, C. Foster

Highlights

• We compare self-reported travel behaviour to objective data from wearable cameras.
• We examine journey mode and duration and daily summary travel frequency and duration.
• Results suggest excellent validity for self-reported mode of travel.
• Journey and daily travel duration have small biases at the group level.
• Journey and daily travel duration have very low reliability at the individual measurement level.

The health implications of inequalities in travel

Roger L. Mackett

Highlights

• Large differences exist in the volumes of travel by various groups in society.
• These differences are decreasing over time.
• There are large differences in access between urban and rural areas.
• Cultural factors contribute to differences in access.
• Casualty rates and vehicle emissions impact more on the poor than the rich.

Retraction notice to “Analyzing road surface conditions, collision time, and road structural factors associated with bicycle collisions from 2000 to 2010 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan” [J. Transp. Health 1/1 (2014) 40–44]

Danzhu (Anna)Chen, Daniel Fuller

Journal of Transport & Health – Volume 1 Issue 2 – June 2014

Editorial for JTH Volume 1, Issue 2

Jennifer S. Mindell

TRB Health and Transportation Subcommittee

Eloisa Tigre Raynault, Ed Christopher

The impact of health problems on driving status among older adults

Kara E. MacLeod, William A. Satariano, David R. Ragland

Highlights

• We assessed the impact of several health problems on driving status among older adults.
• We calculate a relative risk ratio which is relevant for evaluating individuals.
• We calculate a population attributable risk which is relevant for populations.
• The population impact and long term outcomes are important considerations.

The need for consistency and equity in driver education and assessment post-stroke

Annabel McNamara, Annie McCluskey, Jennifer White, Stacey George

Highlights

• Stroke survivors often experience reduced community participation.
• Inequities exist in Australia for access to driving assessment post-stroke.
• Strategies are proposed to improve consistency and equity.

Shifting short motorized trips to walking: The potential of active transportation for physical activity in Montreal

Catherine Morency, Marie Demers, Eric Poliquin

Highlights

• We estimate walking steps resulting from shifting short motorized trips to walking.
• We propose the concept of walking threshold distance based on observed walk trips.
• We examine change in distance threshold over 5 years among population segments.
• We analyze the distribution of steps in reserve from various travel modes.
• We calculate energy expenditure from the walking steps.

Parent safety perceptions of child walking routes

Cody Evers, Shawn Boles, Deb Johnson-Shelton, Marc Schlossberg, David Richey

Highlights

• We predict parent concern for child walking safety using observations of pedestrian infrastructure.
• Street surveys were conducted in the field by parent observers using handheld computers.
• Parent feelings of safety depend strongly on both the presence and quality of sidewalks.
• Street crossings concern parents even when common crossing aids are present.
• Results support use of appropriate behavior models for assessing walking choices.

Crossing guard presence: Impact on active transportation and injury prevention

Carolina Marinovic Gutierrez, Derek Slagle, Kristian Figueras, Anabel Anon, Anne Corinne Huggins, Gillian Hotz

Gender and used/preferred differences of bicycle routes, parking, intersection signals, and bicycle type: Professional middle class preferences in Hangzhou, China

Anne C. Lusk, Xu Wen, Lijun Zhou

Highlights

• Women preferred parking sheds, cycle tracks, bike signals, and public bicycles.
• Barriers between cycle tracks and roads were 3 feet wide with 40 year old trees.
• Half indicated they enjoyed bicycling due to beautiful surrounding environments.
• Hangzhou׳s 11 foot wide cycle tracks are wide enough for side-by-side bicycling.
• 5% of Chinese are overweight/obese compared with 28% for Hangzhou car owners.

Impact on cycling behavior and weight loss of a national cycling skills program (AustCycle) in Australia 2010–2013

C.Rissel, G. Watkins

Highlights

• First national cycling skills program established in Australia.
• 4 year funding to implement nationally.
• Evaluation showed statistically significant improvement in cycling skills and confidence, increased cycling and lower body mass index.

Estimating the health economic benefits of cycling

Gerard Deenihan, Brian Caulfield

Highlights

• Application of an health economic impact tool to cycling in Ireland.
• Demonstration of the health benefits of improved cycling.
• Discussion of the best methods to analyse health benefits that are generated from cycling.

France and Sweden (the home nations of Renault and Volvo) have been blocking the possibility of safer lorry design so that such lorries may not appear on European roads until 2025.

The revision of this legislation, which allows for the extra cab space needed for the new safer cab designs, is supported by the UK Government,  the official opposition,  the European Parliament,  the Council of Ministers and the organisation representing lorry operators.

The Road Danger Reduction forum (RDRF) believes  pressure needs to be applied on the European Parliament.

You can write to the UK Transport Minister, Robert Goodwill MP in support of safer lorries designs.

For more information go to this link  http://lcc.org.uk/articles/eu-safer-lorries-urgent-action

See also  www.rdrf.org.uk

Volume 1 Issue 1  – March 2014

Welcome to the Journal of Transport and Health

Jennifer S. Mindell

Health on the Move 2. Policies for health-promoting transport

J.S. Mindell

The Transport and Health Study Group

Stephen J. Watkins

The role of bicycle sharing systems in normalising the image of cycling: An observational study of London cyclists

Anna Goodman, Judith Green, James Woodcock

Highlights

• Many potential cyclists are put off as they perceive cycling as too risky or sporty.
• This may be reinforced if existing cyclists are seen to wear safety or sports clothes.
• Bicycle sharing systems (BSS) may encourage cycling in everyday clothing.
• London BSS users are less likely to wear helmets, high-viz or sports clothes.
• BSS have the potential to normalise the image of cycling, and so promote cycling.

Changes in outdoor mobility when becoming alone in the household in old age

Vanessa Stjernborg, Ulla Melin Emilsson, Agneta Ståhl

Highlights

• We examine changes in mobility of older people who have becoming alone in the home
• This transition can mean increased, unchanged and decreased mobility.
• Changes in mobility relate to both personal factors and transport factors.
• Special transport service especially important for people with increased activity.
• Making results about this stressful life event visible is especially valuable

Why do teens abandon bicycling? A retrospective look at attitudes and behaviors

Sarah K. Underwood, Susan L. Handy, Debora A. Paterniti, Amy E. Lee

Independent mobility on the journey to school: A joint cross-sectional and prospective exploration of social and physical environmental influences

Alison Carver, Jenna R. Panter, Andrew P. Jones, Esther M.F. van Sluijs

Highlights

• This novel longitudinal study explored children′s independent mobility to school.
• Being allowed to play outside was related to boys′ independent mobility to school
• Land use mix was related to girls′ independent mobility to school.
• Interventions should build confidence for children to venture out without adults.
• Urban planners should include mixed land use in neighborhood design.

The contribution of light levels to ethnic differences in child pedestrian injury risk: a case-only analysis

Rebecca Steinbach, Phil Edwards, Judith Green, Ben Armstrong

Highlights

• Differences in visibility cannot explain ethnic disparities in pedestrian injury rates
• Light levels affect ‘Black’, ‘White’ and ‘Asian’ child pedestrian injury risk equally.
• Future research should explore the quantity and quality of pedestrian exposure.

Analyzing road surface conditions, collision time, and road structural factors associated with bicycle collisions from 2000 to 2010 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Danzhu (Anna) Chen, Daniel Fuller

Highlights

• Slipper road surfaces with gravel, sand, oil, and ice were associated with bicycle collisions.
• Cycling at night increased the odds of collision when compared to cycling in the day.
• Vehicle speed limits over 70 km/h increased the odds of bicycle collision when compared to speed limits of less than 60 km/h.
• Intersections were not associated with an increased odds of bicycle collision when compared to other road structures.

Public transport access and availability in the RESIDE study: Is it taking us where we want to go?

Hannah Badland, Sharyn Hickey, Fiona Bull, Billie Giles-Corti

Highlights

• Majority of built environment and health public transport research focuses on neighbourhood infrastructure available, rather than both origin and destination.
• Public transport infrastructure needs to be located proximate to both home and workplaces.
• People will travel beyond the recommended public transport stop access thresholds, provided it takes them close to their workplace.

Travel to work and self-reported stress: Findings from a workplace survey in south west Sydney, Australia

C.Rissel, N. Petrunoff, L.M. Wen, M. Crane

Highlights

• There has been little research comparing the relative stress involved in different commuting travel modes.
• We found that car drivers reported a higher level of stress relative to the rest of their day (26.1%) compared with active commuters (10.3%).
• Greater consideration of the mental health benefits of active travel may be warranted.

Carsharing as active transport: What are the potential health benefits?

Jennifer L. Kent

Highlights

• Private car use is linked to poor health outcomes.
• This paper is a systematic review of the health benefits of carsharing.
• Carsharing can reduce private vehicle ownership and private vehicle travel.
• These changes have potential health benefits.

Health implications of transport planning, development and operations

Judith M. Cohen, Sadie Boniface, Stephen Watkins

Highlights

• This paper is an overview of impacts of transport on health for transport researchers and practitioners not familiar with them.
• Transport is linked to physical ill-health, mental illness and stress, inequality and associated health outcomes, and safe road environments.
• Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is recommended as a method to maximise benefits and mitigate disbenefits of transport schemes and policies.

Transport and clinical practice

J.S. Mindell, D.L. Cohen, N.J. Shelton, S. Sutaria, A. Hayward, S.J. Watkins

Commentary on transport and clinical practice

C.Rissel, M. Crane, N. Petrunoff

Aim:

To create leaders who can implement and assess policy across the essential services of transport and health.

A new approach:

The MSc in Transport, Health and Policy deliberately breaks from a technical topic-per-module approach, instead focussing on stages within policy evaluation and implementation. This shift of focus enables the complexity of the interactions between transport and health to be explored on a project by project basis

Structure:

The programme is based around 4 workshop-based modules and an individual project and professional portfolio

Workshop-based Modules (each 30 credits)

• Monitoring and Assessment of Health and Transport Policies • Assessing Evidence and Building a Case for Policy
• Policy and Strategy: Development and Implementation
• Strategic Leadership and Decision Making

Research Module (60 credits)
Transport, Health and Policy Dissertation

Workshop Dates
MSc induction
18th – 20th Sept 2014
Monitoring and Assessment of  Health and Transport Policies
6th – 8th Nov 2014
Assessing Evidence and Building  a Case for Policy
8th – 10th Jan 2015
Property and Strategy: Development and Implementation
5th – 7th March 2015
Strategic Leadership and Decision Making
23rd – 25th Apr 2015
Transport, Health and Policy Dissertation Module
After April 2015

For further information contact:

Dr. Catherine Holloway c.holloway (at) ucl.ac.uk
Dr. Nicola Christie nicola.christie (at) ucl.ac.uk
www.cege.ucl.ac.uk/thp

A meeting on the potential health and wellbeing impacts of HS2 will be held at the House of Commons on:

Tuesday 25th March 2014 at 2:00-4:00pm
in Room CR6, at The House of Commons

Everyone is welcome. Please contact Liz Davies, thsgchair (at) gmail (dot) com for more details.

UPDATE 1:

The HS2 debate will be hosted by Andrew Gwynne MP and there will be 4 speakers attending:

One speaker for HS2 – name to be confirmed
One speaker against – Sandra Macdonald
One neutral speaker outlining THSG views – Dr Stephen Watkins
One speaker presenting Health Impact Assessment from Derbyshire CC – Bruce McKenzie

Each speaker will have 15 – 20 mins presentation time and approximately 40 /60 minutes will be given to general discussion.

Please email THSGchair@gmail.com if you wish to attend in order that Parliamentary invites can be issued.

See also:

Derbyshire County Council’s HIA on THSG’s Evidence and Submissions page

HS2’s Health Impact Assessment