Through urban planning, municipalities can play a major role in the adoption and maintenance of a physically active lifestyle among their citizens.
To support the municipal sector, Collectif Vital has identified several strategies that have proven effective and promising.
Intense road traffic creates insecurity among the population. Moreover, the number of accidents in a city is directly proportional to the volume of traffic1.
Urban planning focused on safety, particularly through traffic calming measures, constitutes an effective intervention strategy to reduce road trauma and promote active transportation.
In addition, the combined use of active transportation and public transportation is an excellent way to mitigate the negative impacts of sedentary lifestyles and air pollution caused by automobiles.
To reduce reliance on automobiles in favour of active and collective modes of travel, Collectif Vital recommends that municipalities:
Parks, public spaces and playgrounds are among the most frequented places for practising physical activities2,3,4.
However, public green spaces are not always distributed equitably across territories, particularly in more disadvantaged neighborhoods5. Also, accessibility issues must be considered, ensuring that these spaces are connected to different living environments via active and collective transport infrastructure.
In addition to health benefits, green spaces have a positive impact on the environment by contributing to better air quality and reducing heat islands. Urban planning measures, such as greening existing public spaces, can be implemented to maximize these benefits.
Considering green spaces as important assets to promote active lifestyles, Collectif Vital recommends that municipalities:
To find out more about issues and solutions surrounding the greening of public spaces, check out the ILEAU project coordinated by the Montreal Regional Environmental Council.
Also, the Réseau d’action pour la santé durable du Québec, an initiative of the Association pour la santé publique du Québec, promotes the greening of health establishments as a way to fight against heat islands, improve comfort in living and care environments, and promote urban biodiversity and air quality.
Using active modes of travel to go to work, school or even the grocery store, is recognized as an essential pillar of sustainable mobility and is a simple way to integrate physical activity into your daily life.
To encourage the population to adopt and maintain an active lifestyle throughout the year, the municipal sector must ensure access to safe and attractive spaces reserved for active transportation.
In winter, snow and ice removal from sidewalks are important measures to ensure safe and pleasant experiences for pedestrians. With the growing popularity of cycling, opening bike paths earlier in the spring and later in the fall would make it possible to prolong the use of this active mode of travel.
To ensure pedestrian and bike paths are developed and made accessible in all seasons, Collectif Vital encourages municipalities to:
Walking or biking between home and school is an excellent way for children to get daily physical activity.
Lack of safety, whether perceived or real, is one of the main reasons cited by parents for not allowing their child to walk or bike to school6,7.
Providing permanent, accessible infrastructure for active transportation is therefore necessary so that families feel comfortable choosing active modes of travel.
To encourage active modes of travel around schools, Collectif Vital recommends to:
For further information, Santé Montréal has created an infographic as part of its GO - Le secondaire s'active project in order to better understand how school environments can influence the practice of physical activities among youth aged 12 to 17.
Click here to view the infographic
Encourage urban agriculture.
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For a healthy and sustainable diet.
Encourage families to participate in physical activities.
Initiatives to promote municipal water consumption.
Zoning to limit the establishment of fast food restaurants.
Promote active travel on a daily basis.