Urban transport and human health

This chapter will examine the impact of transport on people’s health within an urban context. In the past 150 years, the increased use of vehicles throughout the world has brought considerable benefits to society but also significant negative effects on both planetary and human health. The negative effects on health include pollution (especially air and noise), injuries from road collisions, segregation of populations, increasing inequalities, and physical inactivity. Active travel (walking and cycling) has the potential to make significant contributions to population improvements in health; however, barriers to participation in this mean it is on the decline in many places across the globe, not least in high‑income countries. This has all been exacerbated in places by planning policy and practice that has been car‑centric; planning and development around work and leisure facilities, health services, and retail outlets have all been designed to be primarily accessed by car.

Despite urban areas often having higher levels of active travel, public transport use, and less car use, they are still hugely impacted by these car‑centric policies and negative effects on health continue to be a key issue. This chapter begins by examining the effect on people’s health of pollution caused by road vehicles and road traffic injuries and then looks at the impacts of three different modes on health = active travel, public transport, and an example of micromobility by looking at e‑scooters. The effect on community severance and isolation is examined, as it is a topic that is often overlooked, before looking at the effects of all if we bring it all together.