URBAN TRANSPORT AND PUBLIC HEALTHHANEEN KHREIS – ISEE ROME 02/09/2016

Institute for Transport StudiesFACULTY OF ENVIRONMENT

FIRST PRINCIPLES

Sustainable Transport? – the Stockholm Declaration did articulate

principles that are relevant to sustainable transport planning. Principle 15 stated that “planning must be applied to human settlements and urbanization with a view to avoiding adverse effects on the environment and obtaining maximum social, economic and environmental benefits for all.”

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

IN PRACTICE – PRIORITIES OF TRANSPORT PLANNING AND POLICY

1. Stimulate the economy by facilitating the smooth flow of goods and people2. Ensure social equity by facilitating access to mobility for disadvantaged groups

(esp. via public transport)3. Addressing negative externalities in the following order of importance:

Congestion, because it has negative social and economic implications, Local ‘quality of life’ problems such as air pollution, parking and spatial problems, Safety (traffic deaths and injuries), Environmental sustainability such as climate change..” (Geels, 2012)

IN PRACTICE – PRIORITIES OF TRANSPORT PLANNING AND POLICY

Noise Reductions

EqualityProviding for CarsEfficiency

Policy IntegrationConnectivity

Economic GrowthTravel Time SavingsCost Effectiveness

Accessibility

Carbon Reductions

Noise Reductions

EqualityProviding for CarsEfficiency

Safety Policy IntegrationConnectivity

APPROACHES TO TRANSPORT PLANNING

A MOBILITY oriented approach “Supporting the economy and regional

development” Drawbacks for public health: fast smooth

travel negatively affects safety, drives a car oriented paradigm causing more traffic and traffic-related exposures, less green space, sedentary travel choices…

An ACCESSIBILITY oriented approach “Providing fair access to needs and

opportunities” Benefits for public health: designing

compact cities and increasing walking/ cycling/ public transport, decrease reliance on car travel and traffic related exposures, less stressful cities, more green space…

We are highly mobile societies

APPROACHES TO TRANSPORT PLANNING

A MOBILITY oriented approach “Supporting the economy and regional

development” Drawbacks for public health: fast smooth

travel negatively affects safety, drives a car oriented paradigm causing more traffic and traffic-related exposures, less green space, sedentary travel choices…

An ACCESSIBILITY oriented approach “Providing fair access to needs and

opportunities” Benefits for public health: designing

compact cities and increasing walking/ cycling/ public transport, decrease reliance on car travel and traffic related exposures, less stressful cities, more green space…

We are highly mobile societies

THEORITICALPRACTICED

THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN TRANSPORT AND URBAN PLANNING

THE PROBLEM

Adapted from: Mueller et al. (2016)

THE PROBLEM Public health not a very dominant aspect in transport

Lack of awareness of the whole range of impacts – attention is political (e.g. reducing CO2 by prompting diesel vehicles, reducing air pollution by prompting electric vehicles) Selected impacts only in transport

investment appraisal “Action” regarding selected impacts only Lack of public awareness reinforce lack of

political commitment and initiative to address problems

Public health indicators not part of the tools that support transport planning (e.g. SUMP development)

Policy decision-makers emphasise “uncertainty” not “risk”

Not enough cross-sectional dialogue – not enough knowledge/ tools dissemination and not enough pushing for health to be prioritized in the development agenda

THE SOLUTIONS? A more prominent role for public health in transport research and practice A stronger link between urban and transport planning, environment and health Improved cross-sectional collaboration, dialogue and knowledge/ tools

dissemination Emphasizing risk rather than uncertainty A better understanding of sectorial agendas and perspectives Simple, usable tools to evaluate and cost the health impacts of transport

projects (e.g. HEAT) Improved public awareness of the whole range of health impacts to influence

political will Dialogue with policy makers

Over to you : what else?