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
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
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.
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.
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.
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