Cohesive City: Built Environment and Active Transport

Abstract: – Cotemporary development has transformed the city structure and urban fabric. Several studies in public health domain contemplate premeditated active transport as one of the major decisive factor in enhancing urban dwellers’ quality of life. Active transport and human powered transportation includes walking, cycling and variants such as cycle rickshaws, skateboards, push scooters, hand carts, etc. These modes provide both transportation and recreation and are especially important for short trips that form the largest share of trips in urban areas. Since the built environment is the setting in which the use of active transport manifests, if a sufficient condition is not provided, it may deprive the individuals of any opportunity for the activity to occur at all. This is why it is important to study the built environment as a factor of walkability and develop knowledge about creating urban environments that are conducive for active transport. This paper discusses active transport factors at various levels. Further, the paper dwells on investigating the attributes of built environment at the street and building level.

Key Words: Built environment, Active Transport, Built form, Density, Connectivity, Land use diversity.

INTRODUCTION

Great cities provide ample prospects for all of its inhabitants to enhance their lives and ensure an unrivalled level of sovereignty, security and creativity. Several studies in public health domain contemplate premeditated active transport as one of the major decisive factor in enhancing urban dwellers’ quality of life. Active transport and human powered transportation includes walking, cycling and variants such as cycle rickshaws, skateboards, push scooters, hand carts, etc. These modes provide both transportation and recreation and are especially important for short trips that form the largest share of trips in urban areas. Active transportation is being emphasized as a sustainable form of mobility in urban planning / urban design and in public health as an opportunity for increasing recommended levels of physical activity for better health. Active transport is an easier mode of travel for different purposes for younger and elderly alike. Along with reducing congestion and having low environmental impact, it has social and recreational value while promoting physical and mental wellbeing
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