Activating Children’s and Youth’s Active Travel in 15-minute Cities
funded by the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership (DUT) program – 15-minute City Transition Pathway – Advancing urban mobility: innovations for inclusive and youth-centric mobility systems (co-funded by the EU)
The research project is being carried out by a consortium consisting of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Utrecht University, University College London, and the Autonomous University of Barcelona, in collaboration with partner cities from the participating regions.
Starting point
Children and young people are walking and cycling less and less, even though both activities are proven to be healthy and environmentally friendly. At the same time, motorised private transport is causing major environmental problems, especially in cities. The idea of the ‘15-minute city’ aims to create places where important destinations can be reached quickly and easily on foot or by bicycle. Nevertheless, many young people hardly ever take advantage of these opportunities. The project is therefore investigating which factors, apart from infrastructure, influence mobility behaviour – so that future 15-minute cities really motivate children and young people to walk and cycle.
ACTIVATE specifically investigates why children and young people choose certain modes of transport – walking, cycling or other – and how these reasons change as they get older. Taking a socio-ecological perspective, it considers influences at several levels: politics and urban planning, the built environment, the social environment (parents, friends, neighbourhood) and personal factors. Particular focus is placed on age-related transitions, such as the move from kindergarten to primary school or lower secondary school and later to further education or university.
ACTIVATE provides insights into:
How political measures and the built environment influence mobility behaviour, with a focus on social inequalities.
How community and relationships shape attitudes and promote or hinder active mobility depending on the stage of life.
How these factors vary depending on social circumstances and influence decisions to walk or cycle.
Translating these findings into a practical toolbox of actions to overcome barriers to active mobility for children and youth.
