Built environment

Physical activity and sedentary living are important public health issues. Several studies have revealed links between various features of the built environment and physical activity. In order to develop a profile, better understand the impacts of built environment features, and better direct interventions on the creation of built environments that are conducive to physical activity, using the best information available is essential. The aim of this TOPO is to outline the main methods for…

This summary presents recommendations made by the Institut national de santé publique du Québec to foster safe active transportation between home and school among elementary school students. It is based on a review of the scientific literature.

The mandate of the National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy (NCCHPP) is to increase the expertise of public health actors across Canada in healthy public policy through the development, sharing and use of knowledge. Health authorities constitute a key group of stakeholders targeted by the knowledge translation, synthesis and exchange activities integral to the fulfillment of the Centre's mandate. It is within this context that the NCCHPP has developed various projects tied to…

This summary is the fourth in a series of five short documents based on a literature review published in 2011. In what follows, we first present the mechanisms of action underlying traffic-calming strategies, as these mechanisms help explain and predict the effects of such strategies on active transportation (cycling, walking, etc.). Next, we summarize the results of studies having evaluated two approaches to traffic calming. Lastly, we consider the implications of such results for public…

This summary is the third in a series of five short documents based on a literature review published in 2011. In what follows, we first present the mechanisms of action underlying traffic-calming strategies, as these mechanisms help explain and predict the effects of such strategies on traffic noise. Next, we summarize the results of studies having evaluated two approaches to traffic calming. Lastly, we consider the implications of such results for public health.

This summary is the second in a series of five short documents based on a literature review published in 2011. In what follows, we first present the mechanisms of action underlying traffic-calming strategies, as these mechanisms help to explain and predict the effects of calming interventions on air pollution produced by traffic. Next, we summarize the results of studies having evaluated two approaches to traffic calming. Lastly, we consider the implications of such results for public health…

The tables below constitute a synthesis of the evaluations of traffic-calming interventions included in our literature review, including our comments.a Readers will find here a synthesis of each study (research questions, methodology, results), along with a column containing remarks about the conceptual validity, the internal validity and/or the reliability of each one. Although they are presented individually, the studies are grouped into three broad intervention categories: those…

This literature review examines the effects of traffic calming in urban environments on four health determinants, namely:

Traffic calming is a manner of intervening in the built environment that appears to offer significant potential as a way to improve population health, and the evaluative literature is sufficiently abundant…

This summary is the first in a series of five short documents based on a literature review published in 2011. In what follows, we first present the mechanisms of action underlying traffic-calming strategies, as these mechanisms help to explain and predict the effects of calming interventions on the number and severity of collisions. Next, we summarize the results of studies having evaluated two approaches to traffic calming. Lastly, we consider the implications of such results for public…

This glossary was developed in conjunction with the document “Urban Traffic Calming and Health: A Literature Review” for the purpose of describing and illustrating the various trafficcalming measures referred to in the review.

This glossary identifies and describes trafficcalming measures, and offers the terms side by side in French and English. It may be of general interest to those seeking a simple way to orient themselves with respect to the numerous existing calming measures or…