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Health and equity impacts of Te Ara Mua Future Streets

Year:
2019
Duration:
64 months
Approved budget:
$1,185,793.10
Researchers:
Professor Alex Macmillan
Health issue:
Environmental health
Proposal type:
Project
Lay summary
Shifting short trips by car to walking and cycling would bring large benefits for health and fairness in cities. These benefits include building physical exercise back into our daily lives, improving air quality, reducing car crash injuries and improving neighbourhood social connection. Reduced car use would save families money and reduce climate pollution. This research is about how we retrofit suburbs which have been designed for car use, to make them safer, more attractive, and more convenient for walking and cycling, with a focus on what works for Māori and Pacific communities so transport investments might also in future contribute to reducing health inequalities. We have already co-designed and constructed new walking and cycling infrastructure in Māngere, Auckland and this proposal is to measure the health and fairness benefits 3.5-4 years post-intervention, comparing the outcomes with the same measures in a similar suburb without the intervention.