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Martin Dijst

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Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Kansas State University

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique / French National Centre for Scientific Research

Iran University of Science & Technology

Heather D Baker

University of Toronto

Juan Carlos Moreno Garcia

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique / French National Centre for Scientific Research

Emiliano Treré

Cardiff University

Antonio Coronato

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)

Trent University

Washington Center for Consciousness Studies

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Papers by Martin Dijst

Time-space variations in the characteristics of visitor populations and the performance of places

ICT en activiteit en reispatronen

Action spaces and cyberspace

DEPICT: DEsigning and Policy Implementation for encouraging Cycling and walking Trips

The Mobilities of Home: Towards a new Planning for Mobilities based on an Actor-Relational Approach

This book is a message to be humble before truth and reality and to relinquish the idea of contro... more This book is a message to be humble before truth and reality and to relinquish the idea of controlling them. Planners do not have that much control. In retrospect, it was easy to conclude that in conditions of constant population growth and with an economy in fairly good shape, a linear model of urban development would be relatively easy to maintain: the origin of the idea of certainty and control. The population in the Western world is no longer growing though; on the contrary, many regions and cities are facing population decline. Added to that, the economy is proving quite uncertain as well. The two together impact on spatial development. This all means that we have to consider a fundamentally different perspective on the role of spatial planning and its position in urban and rural development. Instead of planning aiming to achieve controlled development, it might get more out of the various autonomous processes affecting urban and the rural areas. In addition to planners being e...

ICT and activity and travel patterns

Walking, trip purpose, and exposure to multiple environments: A case study of older adults in Luxembourg

Journal of Transport & Health, 2019

HAL is a multidisciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific re... more HAL is a multidisciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

Pedestrian falls’ as necessary addition to the current definition of traffic crashes for improved public health policies

Journal of Transport & Health, 2017

Key to the development of public health policies and strategies is the accurate definition of the... more Key to the development of public health policies and strategies is the accurate definition of the problem(s) under review. Accurate problem definition fences off undesirable circumstances, highlighting some aspects and throwing others in the shadow (Weiss, 1989). Widely accepted definitions of traffic crashes focus on vehicle crashes (sometimes further restricted to motor vehicle crashes) occurring on public roads. These definitions exclude incidents such as pedestrians slipping, tripping or colliding with objects resulting in falls in public spaces leading to injury or death. Such incidents are hereafter denoted in short as Pedestrian Falls (PFs) The current definition is understandable from a historical perspective, but it may no longer be accurate or justifiable. The exclusion of PFs by definition and, subsequently, in statistics likely leads to biased conclusions in transport and safety policies, not serving public health interests. This paper focuses on the problem

Path-dependency in segregation and social networks in the Netherlands

Social & Cultural Geography, 2017

Policy-makers in industrialised countries have been implementing polices to create neighbourhoods... more Policy-makers in industrialised countries have been implementing polices to create neighbourhoods with diverse populations in the hopes of increasing and ameliorating inter-ethnic relations. However, social networks seem to remain largely segregated. The composition of people's social networks is traditionally explained by population compositions and subsequent meeting opportunities versus preferences for homophilious interaction. Little attention has been paid to the social construction behind these two factors. This study of Turkish and native Dutch individuals in two neighbourhoods in Rotterdam from a time-geographic perspective shows that pathdependency plays a large role in keeping social networks segregated. The social circles individuals engage in during their lives are linked together. Individuals are introduced to places, activities and people by their existing social networks, starting with their parents and siblings. As such, they are likely to roam in spaces dominated by people of their own ethnicity, which lessens the opportunity to meet people from other ethnic backgrounds. This role of people's existing social networks in ethnic segregation has been overlooked in the integration debate so far. Dépendance au sentier dans la ségrégation et les réseaux sociaux aux Pays-Bas RÉSUMÉ Les responsables politiques dans les pays industrialisés ont mis en oeuvre des politiques pour créer des quartiers de populations diverses dans l'espoir d'augmenter et d'améliorer les relations interethniques. Pourtant, les réseaux sociaux semblent rester séparés en grande partie. Traditionnellement, on explique la composition des réseaux sociaux des personnes par les compositions de la population et les opportunités de rencontre qui s'ensuivent plutôt que par les préférences d'interaction homophile. On a accordé peu d'attention à la construction sociale derrière ces deux facteurs. Cette étude de personnes turques et d'indigènes néerlandais dans deux quartiers de Rotterdam à partir d'une perspective chrono-géographique montre que la dépendance au sentier joue un rôle important dans le maintien de la ségrégation au niveau des réseaux sociaux. Les cercles sociaux auxquels se joignent les personnes durant leurs vies sont liés ensemble.

Integrated weather effects on e-cycling in daily commuting: A longitudinal evaluation of weather effects on e-cycling in the Netherlands

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2021

While in many regions the conventional bicycle has already been regarded as an environmentally fr... more While in many regions the conventional bicycle has already been regarded as an environmentally friendly and healthy alternative to the car for daily commuting, societal and policy agendas are also increasingly promoting e-bike adoption. Adding to recent research on e-bike safety, satisfaction with travel and behavioral change, this paper reports on the impact of weather circumstances on the use of the e-bike in daily commuting in an e-cycling incentive program in the province of Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands. The impact of this incentive program was analyzed using a longitudinal design, and it combined travel patterns that were derived from individuals' GPS data over nine months, hourly observed meteorological data, and questionnaires on intended behavior and sociodemographic characteristics. The findings suggest that the presence of snow and ice, total precipitation, and high windspeed negatively affected the choice of commuting to work by e-bike, in this decreasing order of impact. Although the overall impact of air temperature on e-cycling was positive, the likeliness to commute by e-bike decreased at higher air temperatures. E-cycling under specific weather conditions was more likely if participants' intention to ecycle under such weather conditions was stronger. Our study indicates that the benefits of the ebike in daily commuting are underestimated in relation to adverse weather conditions. Respondents from households with one car only, therefore, have fewer alternatives in poor weather conditions: for these individuals, only total precipitation and the presence of relatively low air temperature impact e-cycling. In addition, reported gender and high wind speeds might have been expected to influence participation in e-cycling.

Relations between the residential fast-food environment and the individual risk of cardiovascular diseases in The Netherlands: A nationwide follow-up study

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2018

BackgroundThe food environment has been hypothesized to influence cardiovascular diseases such as... more BackgroundThe food environment has been hypothesized to influence cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and coronary heart disease. This study determines the relation between fast-food outlet density (FFD) and the individual risk for cardiovascular disease, among a nationwide Dutch sample.MethodsAfter linkage of three national registers, a cohort of 2,472,004 adults (≥35 years), free from cardiovascular disease at January 1st 2009 and living at the same address for ≥15 years was constructed. Participants were followed for one year to determine incidence of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure. Street network-based buffers of 500 m, 1000 m and 3000 m around residential addresses were calculated, while FFD was determined using a retail outlet database. Logistic regression analyses were conducted. Models were stratified by degree of urbanization and adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, marital status, comorbidity, neighbourhood-level in...

Impact of traffic zones on mobility behavior in Tehran, Iran

Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2017

The use of private cars has increased rapidly in developing countries, causing congestion and pol... more The use of private cars has increased rapidly in developing countries, causing congestion and pollution in cities. In Iran, measures have been taken to manage the extensive automobile use in Tehran. Two downtown traffic zones were introduced: The Restricted Traffic Zone (RTZ) based on pass permission and the Odd-Even Zone (OEZ) based on license-plate number. This article investigates how and to what extent traffic zoning influences mobility behavior in Tehran. Two neighborhoods within these zones and one elsewhere were selected to compare the impact of traffic zoning on mode choice and travel time by means of regression analyses. The results show that zoning has decreased driving in both neighborhoods; although compared to the RTZ, the OEZ has had a limited impact. While car use has diminished in both neighborhoods compared to the area without restrictions, travel time has increased in the traffic zones. An explanation might be the low quality of the infrastructure for alternative m...

Relations between air pollution and vascular development in 5-year old children: a cross-sectional study in the Netherlands

Environmental Health, 2019

Background: Air pollution has been shown to promote cardiovascular disease in adults. Possible me... more Background: Air pollution has been shown to promote cardiovascular disease in adults. Possible mechanisms include air pollution induced changes in arterial wall function and structure. Atherosclerotic vascular disease is a lifelong process and childhood exposure may play a critical role. We investigated whether air pollution is related to arterial wall changes in 5-year old children. To this aim, we developed an air pollution exposure methodology including time-weighted activity patterns improving upon epidemiological studies which assess exposure only at residential addresses. Methods: The study is part of an existing cohort study in which measurements of carotid artery intima-media thickness, carotid artery distensibility, elastic modulus, diastolic and systolic blood pressure have been obtained. Air pollution assessments were based on annual average concentration maps of Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Oxides at 5 m resolution derived from the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects. We defined children's likely primary activities and for each activity we calculated the mean air pollution exposure within the assumed area visited by the child. The exposure was then weighted by the time spent performing each activity to retrieve personal air pollution exposure for each child. Time spent in these activities was based upon a Dutch mobility survey. To assess the relation between the vascular status and air pollution exposure we applied linear regressions in order to adjust for potential confounders. Results: Carotid artery distensibility was consistently associated with the exposures among the 733 5-years olds. Regression analysis showed that for air pollution exposures carotid artery distensibility decreased per standard deviation. Specifically, for NO 2, carotid artery distensibility decreased by − 1.53 mPa − 1 (95% CI:-2.84, − 0.21), for NO x by − 1.35 mPa − 1 (95% CI:-2.67, − 0.04), for PM 2.5 by − 1.38 mPa − 1 (95% CI:-2.73, − 0.02), for PM 10 by − 1.56 mPa − 1 (95% CI:-2.73, − 0.39), and for PM 2.5absorbance by − 1.63 (95% CI:-2.30, − 0.18). No associations were observed for the rest outcomes. Conclusions: The results of this study support the view that air pollution exposure may reduce arterial distensibility starting in young children. If the reduced distensibility persists, this may have clinical relevance later in life. The results of this study further stress the importance of reducing environmental pollutant exposures.

Exploring urban metabolism—Towards an interdisciplinary perspective

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2018

The discussion on urban metabolism has been long dominated by natural scientists focussing on nat... more The discussion on urban metabolism has been long dominated by natural scientists focussing on natural forces shaping the energy and material flows in urban systems. However, in the anthropocene human forces such as industrialization and urbanization are mobilizing people, goods and information at an increasing pace and as such have a large impact on urban energy and material flows. In this white paper, we develop a combined natural and social science perspective on urban metabolism. More specifically, innovative conceptual and methodological interdisciplinary approaches are identified and discussed to enhance the understanding of the forces that shape urban metabolism, and how these forces affect urban living and the environment. A challenging research agenda on urban metabolism is also presented.

Neighborhood-based PA and its environmental correlates: a GIS- and GPS based cross-sectional study in the Netherlands

BMC Public Health, 2018

Background: To improve our understanding of the neighborhood environmentphysical activity (PA) re... more Background: To improve our understanding of the neighborhood environmentphysical activity (PA) relationship, it is of importance to assess associations between neighborhood environmental characteristics and neighborhoodbased PA. Methods: Participants' (N = 308; 45-65 years) light PA (LPA) and moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) within a 400, 800, and 1600 m buffer around adults' homes was measured using accelerometers and GPS-devices. Land use data in ArcGIS provided neighborhood characteristics for the same buffers. Multilevel linear regression models, adjusted for socio-demographic variables and attitude towards PA, were used to assess associations of objective neighborhood characteristics with neighborhood-based LPA and MVPA. Results: LPA was positively associated with the proportions of roads (within a 400 m buffer), and negatively associated with the proportions of recreational areas (within an 800 m buffer), and the proportion of green space (within the 800 m and 1600 m buffers). Multiple characteristics of 400 m buffers were positively associated with MVPA, i.e. proportions of green space, blue space, residences, shops and foodservice industry, sports terrain, and public social-cultural facilities. Also, characteristics of larger buffers were positively associated with MVPA, i.e. the proportions of shops and foodservice industry, sports terrain, and blue space (within an 800 m buffer), and the proportion of public social-cultural facilities (within the 800 m and 1600 m buffers). Conclusions: Objective neighborhood characteristics of smaller as well as larger sized buffers were associated with neighborhood-based LPA and MVPA. Green and blue spaces seem to be of particular importance for PA in the smallest buffer, i.e. in the direct surrounding of adults' homes.

Behavioural effects of a tradable driving credit scheme: Results of an online stated adaptation experiment in the Netherlands

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2018

There is increasing interest in the application of tradable credit schemes in the context of pers... more There is increasing interest in the application of tradable credit schemes in the context of personal travel. To anticipate the short-term effects of a distance-based tradable driving credit (TDC) scheme, an innovative stated adaptation experiment has been conducted. Using an activity-based approach, Dutch participants who frequently commute by car could reschedule their car-based activities and alter the travel pattern they reported in an online travel diary for a full week. This paper presents the results of model estimations that describe the likelihood of changing car use and the number of kilometres driven in response to two TDC scenarios. Reductions were larger for those who experienced a loss under the measure compared to those who could expect a gain. Participants who worked more hours and who lived in non-urban areas showed lower car use reduction levels, whereas participants with middle incomes and who were 18-25 years old showed higher reduction levels. A car dependency measure was added to the models to assess how these effects are related to the availability of car use alternatives.

How do type and size of natural environments relate to physical activity behavior?

Health & Place, 2017

Natural environments (NE) are promoted as places that support physical activity (PA), but evidenc... more Natural environments (NE) are promoted as places that support physical activity (PA), but evidence on PA distribution across various types and sizes of NE is lacking. Accelerometers and GPS-devices measured PA of Dutch general population adults aged 45-65 years (N=279). Five NE types were distinguished: 'parks', 'recreational area', 'agricultural green', 'forest & moorland', and 'blue space', and four categories of size: 0-3, 3-7, 7-27, and ≥27 ha. Modality (i.e. spatially concentrated PA, walking, jogging, and cycling) and intensity (i.e. sedentary behavior, LPA, and MVPA) of PA varied significantly between NE types. Compared to parks, less sedentary behavior and walking but more spatially concentrated PA was observed in recreational areas and green space. Cycling levels were found to be significantly lower in recreational areas and forest & moorland, but higher in blue space as compared to parks. Larger sized NE (≥7 ha) were associated with higher levels of MVPA, walking, jogging and cycling. Insight in which environments (according to type and size) facilitate PA, contributes to the development of tailored PA promoting interventions with ensuing implications for public health.

Social Sustainability in an Ageing Chinese Society: Towards an Integrative Conceptual Framework

Sustainability, 2017

Social sustainability is a relatively underexposed dimension of the sustainability debate. Divers... more Social sustainability is a relatively underexposed dimension of the sustainability debate. Diversified and discipline-specific study perspectives and the lack of contextualization make it difficult to gain a comprehensive understanding of social sustainability in non-Western societies. In examining the problems facing a rapidly ageing Chinese society, this paper aims to construct an integrative conceptual framework of social sustainability, taking into account the Chinese contextual interpretations and elderly population in particular. This paper proposes an integrative conceptual framework composed of two key contextualized components: well-being and social justice. Well-being, according to Lindenberg, is the ultimate goal of life and is achieved by relevant themes organized in a hierarchical system. Social justice relating to the equal distribution of resources, opportunities, and rights is also significant for the achievement of well-being. Interpretations of social sustainability are explored within Chinese socio-cultural (Confucianism, collectivism), institutional (welfare regime, hukou system), and demographic (population ageing) contexts.

Too busy or too far away? The importance of subjective constraints and spatial factors for sports frequency

Managing Sport and Leisure, 2016

Previous studies on the association between the availability of sports facilities and sports part... more Previous studies on the association between the availability of sports facilities and sports participation have neglected the influence of subjective constraints that individuals experience with regard to sports participation. This paper investigates to what extent constraints experienced by sports participants are associated with their spatial circumstances and whether these subjective constraints or objective spatial circumstances have a greater impact on sports frequency. Based on a survey among 776 adults in urban and rural municipalities in the Netherlands, regression analyses revealed that constraints were related to neighbourhood liveability and distance to indoor sports facilities and swimming pools. Time constraints had a strong negative effect on sports frequency, but the effect of distance to indoor facilities and swimming pools was even more important. Our results furthermore indicate a growing need for flexibility in the spatiotemporal organization of sports activities and an increased importance of the public space for sports participation.

Tradable credits for managing car travel: a review of empirical research and relevant behavioural approaches

Transport Reviews, 2016

Recently, there has been a surge of interest in Tradable Credits (TC) as an alternative measure t... more Recently, there has been a surge of interest in Tradable Credits (TC) as an alternative measure to manage the growth of personal car use. This paper summarises the results and methodologies of studies that have sought to anticipate the behavioural responses to several proposed TC schemes that target personal travel. In a critical reflection on this work and in an attempt to inspire future research, we argue that future empirical studies on TC behaviours can greatly benefit from insights from the fields of behavioural economics and cognitive psychology. Therefore, in the second part of the paper, we bring together behavioural concepts from these fields that are relevant in a TC decision-making context. Based on observations from current TC studies and the behavioural mechanisms identified in the second part of the paper, we propose promising directions for future research on understanding the impact of TC on personal car travel.

Time-space variations in the characteristics of visitor populations and the performance of places

ICT en activiteit en reispatronen

Action spaces and cyberspace

DEPICT: DEsigning and Policy Implementation for encouraging Cycling and walking Trips

The Mobilities of Home: Towards a new Planning for Mobilities based on an Actor-Relational Approach

This book is a message to be humble before truth and reality and to relinquish the idea of contro... more This book is a message to be humble before truth and reality and to relinquish the idea of controlling them. Planners do not have that much control. In retrospect, it was easy to conclude that in conditions of constant population growth and with an economy in fairly good shape, a linear model of urban development would be relatively easy to maintain: the origin of the idea of certainty and control. The population in the Western world is no longer growing though; on the contrary, many regions and cities are facing population decline. Added to that, the economy is proving quite uncertain as well. The two together impact on spatial development. This all means that we have to consider a fundamentally different perspective on the role of spatial planning and its position in urban and rural development. Instead of planning aiming to achieve controlled development, it might get more out of the various autonomous processes affecting urban and the rural areas. In addition to planners being e...

ICT and activity and travel patterns

Walking, trip purpose, and exposure to multiple environments: A case study of older adults in Luxembourg

Journal of Transport & Health, 2019

HAL is a multidisciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific re... more HAL is a multidisciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

Pedestrian falls’ as necessary addition to the current definition of traffic crashes for improved public health policies

Journal of Transport & Health, 2017

Key to the development of public health policies and strategies is the accurate definition of the... more Key to the development of public health policies and strategies is the accurate definition of the problem(s) under review. Accurate problem definition fences off undesirable circumstances, highlighting some aspects and throwing others in the shadow (Weiss, 1989). Widely accepted definitions of traffic crashes focus on vehicle crashes (sometimes further restricted to motor vehicle crashes) occurring on public roads. These definitions exclude incidents such as pedestrians slipping, tripping or colliding with objects resulting in falls in public spaces leading to injury or death. Such incidents are hereafter denoted in short as Pedestrian Falls (PFs) The current definition is understandable from a historical perspective, but it may no longer be accurate or justifiable. The exclusion of PFs by definition and, subsequently, in statistics likely leads to biased conclusions in transport and safety policies, not serving public health interests. This paper focuses on the problem

Path-dependency in segregation and social networks in the Netherlands

Social & Cultural Geography, 2017

Policy-makers in industrialised countries have been implementing polices to create neighbourhoods... more Policy-makers in industrialised countries have been implementing polices to create neighbourhoods with diverse populations in the hopes of increasing and ameliorating inter-ethnic relations. However, social networks seem to remain largely segregated. The composition of people's social networks is traditionally explained by population compositions and subsequent meeting opportunities versus preferences for homophilious interaction. Little attention has been paid to the social construction behind these two factors. This study of Turkish and native Dutch individuals in two neighbourhoods in Rotterdam from a time-geographic perspective shows that pathdependency plays a large role in keeping social networks segregated. The social circles individuals engage in during their lives are linked together. Individuals are introduced to places, activities and people by their existing social networks, starting with their parents and siblings. As such, they are likely to roam in spaces dominated by people of their own ethnicity, which lessens the opportunity to meet people from other ethnic backgrounds. This role of people's existing social networks in ethnic segregation has been overlooked in the integration debate so far. Dépendance au sentier dans la ségrégation et les réseaux sociaux aux Pays-Bas RÉSUMÉ Les responsables politiques dans les pays industrialisés ont mis en oeuvre des politiques pour créer des quartiers de populations diverses dans l'espoir d'augmenter et d'améliorer les relations interethniques. Pourtant, les réseaux sociaux semblent rester séparés en grande partie. Traditionnellement, on explique la composition des réseaux sociaux des personnes par les compositions de la population et les opportunités de rencontre qui s'ensuivent plutôt que par les préférences d'interaction homophile. On a accordé peu d'attention à la construction sociale derrière ces deux facteurs. Cette étude de personnes turques et d'indigènes néerlandais dans deux quartiers de Rotterdam à partir d'une perspective chrono-géographique montre que la dépendance au sentier joue un rôle important dans le maintien de la ségrégation au niveau des réseaux sociaux. Les cercles sociaux auxquels se joignent les personnes durant leurs vies sont liés ensemble.

Integrated weather effects on e-cycling in daily commuting: A longitudinal evaluation of weather effects on e-cycling in the Netherlands

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2021

While in many regions the conventional bicycle has already been regarded as an environmentally fr... more While in many regions the conventional bicycle has already been regarded as an environmentally friendly and healthy alternative to the car for daily commuting, societal and policy agendas are also increasingly promoting e-bike adoption. Adding to recent research on e-bike safety, satisfaction with travel and behavioral change, this paper reports on the impact of weather circumstances on the use of the e-bike in daily commuting in an e-cycling incentive program in the province of Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands. The impact of this incentive program was analyzed using a longitudinal design, and it combined travel patterns that were derived from individuals' GPS data over nine months, hourly observed meteorological data, and questionnaires on intended behavior and sociodemographic characteristics. The findings suggest that the presence of snow and ice, total precipitation, and high windspeed negatively affected the choice of commuting to work by e-bike, in this decreasing order of impact. Although the overall impact of air temperature on e-cycling was positive, the likeliness to commute by e-bike decreased at higher air temperatures. E-cycling under specific weather conditions was more likely if participants' intention to ecycle under such weather conditions was stronger. Our study indicates that the benefits of the ebike in daily commuting are underestimated in relation to adverse weather conditions. Respondents from households with one car only, therefore, have fewer alternatives in poor weather conditions: for these individuals, only total precipitation and the presence of relatively low air temperature impact e-cycling. In addition, reported gender and high wind speeds might have been expected to influence participation in e-cycling.

Relations between the residential fast-food environment and the individual risk of cardiovascular diseases in The Netherlands: A nationwide follow-up study

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2018

BackgroundThe food environment has been hypothesized to influence cardiovascular diseases such as... more BackgroundThe food environment has been hypothesized to influence cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and coronary heart disease. This study determines the relation between fast-food outlet density (FFD) and the individual risk for cardiovascular disease, among a nationwide Dutch sample.MethodsAfter linkage of three national registers, a cohort of 2,472,004 adults (≥35 years), free from cardiovascular disease at January 1st 2009 and living at the same address for ≥15 years was constructed. Participants were followed for one year to determine incidence of cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure. Street network-based buffers of 500 m, 1000 m and 3000 m around residential addresses were calculated, while FFD was determined using a retail outlet database. Logistic regression analyses were conducted. Models were stratified by degree of urbanization and adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, marital status, comorbidity, neighbourhood-level in...

Impact of traffic zones on mobility behavior in Tehran, Iran

Journal of Transport and Land Use, 2017

The use of private cars has increased rapidly in developing countries, causing congestion and pol... more The use of private cars has increased rapidly in developing countries, causing congestion and pollution in cities. In Iran, measures have been taken to manage the extensive automobile use in Tehran. Two downtown traffic zones were introduced: The Restricted Traffic Zone (RTZ) based on pass permission and the Odd-Even Zone (OEZ) based on license-plate number. This article investigates how and to what extent traffic zoning influences mobility behavior in Tehran. Two neighborhoods within these zones and one elsewhere were selected to compare the impact of traffic zoning on mode choice and travel time by means of regression analyses. The results show that zoning has decreased driving in both neighborhoods; although compared to the RTZ, the OEZ has had a limited impact. While car use has diminished in both neighborhoods compared to the area without restrictions, travel time has increased in the traffic zones. An explanation might be the low quality of the infrastructure for alternative m...

Relations between air pollution and vascular development in 5-year old children: a cross-sectional study in the Netherlands

Environmental Health, 2019

Background: Air pollution has been shown to promote cardiovascular disease in adults. Possible me... more Background: Air pollution has been shown to promote cardiovascular disease in adults. Possible mechanisms include air pollution induced changes in arterial wall function and structure. Atherosclerotic vascular disease is a lifelong process and childhood exposure may play a critical role. We investigated whether air pollution is related to arterial wall changes in 5-year old children. To this aim, we developed an air pollution exposure methodology including time-weighted activity patterns improving upon epidemiological studies which assess exposure only at residential addresses. Methods: The study is part of an existing cohort study in which measurements of carotid artery intima-media thickness, carotid artery distensibility, elastic modulus, diastolic and systolic blood pressure have been obtained. Air pollution assessments were based on annual average concentration maps of Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Oxides at 5 m resolution derived from the European Study of Cohorts for Air Pollution Effects. We defined children's likely primary activities and for each activity we calculated the mean air pollution exposure within the assumed area visited by the child. The exposure was then weighted by the time spent performing each activity to retrieve personal air pollution exposure for each child. Time spent in these activities was based upon a Dutch mobility survey. To assess the relation between the vascular status and air pollution exposure we applied linear regressions in order to adjust for potential confounders. Results: Carotid artery distensibility was consistently associated with the exposures among the 733 5-years olds. Regression analysis showed that for air pollution exposures carotid artery distensibility decreased per standard deviation. Specifically, for NO 2, carotid artery distensibility decreased by − 1.53 mPa − 1 (95% CI:-2.84, − 0.21), for NO x by − 1.35 mPa − 1 (95% CI:-2.67, − 0.04), for PM 2.5 by − 1.38 mPa − 1 (95% CI:-2.73, − 0.02), for PM 10 by − 1.56 mPa − 1 (95% CI:-2.73, − 0.39), and for PM 2.5absorbance by − 1.63 (95% CI:-2.30, − 0.18). No associations were observed for the rest outcomes. Conclusions: The results of this study support the view that air pollution exposure may reduce arterial distensibility starting in young children. If the reduced distensibility persists, this may have clinical relevance later in life. The results of this study further stress the importance of reducing environmental pollutant exposures.

Exploring urban metabolism—Towards an interdisciplinary perspective

Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2018

The discussion on urban metabolism has been long dominated by natural scientists focussing on nat... more The discussion on urban metabolism has been long dominated by natural scientists focussing on natural forces shaping the energy and material flows in urban systems. However, in the anthropocene human forces such as industrialization and urbanization are mobilizing people, goods and information at an increasing pace and as such have a large impact on urban energy and material flows. In this white paper, we develop a combined natural and social science perspective on urban metabolism. More specifically, innovative conceptual and methodological interdisciplinary approaches are identified and discussed to enhance the understanding of the forces that shape urban metabolism, and how these forces affect urban living and the environment. A challenging research agenda on urban metabolism is also presented.

Neighborhood-based PA and its environmental correlates: a GIS- and GPS based cross-sectional study in the Netherlands

BMC Public Health, 2018

Background: To improve our understanding of the neighborhood environmentphysical activity (PA) re... more Background: To improve our understanding of the neighborhood environmentphysical activity (PA) relationship, it is of importance to assess associations between neighborhood environmental characteristics and neighborhoodbased PA. Methods: Participants' (N = 308; 45-65 years) light PA (LPA) and moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA) within a 400, 800, and 1600 m buffer around adults' homes was measured using accelerometers and GPS-devices. Land use data in ArcGIS provided neighborhood characteristics for the same buffers. Multilevel linear regression models, adjusted for socio-demographic variables and attitude towards PA, were used to assess associations of objective neighborhood characteristics with neighborhood-based LPA and MVPA. Results: LPA was positively associated with the proportions of roads (within a 400 m buffer), and negatively associated with the proportions of recreational areas (within an 800 m buffer), and the proportion of green space (within the 800 m and 1600 m buffers). Multiple characteristics of 400 m buffers were positively associated with MVPA, i.e. proportions of green space, blue space, residences, shops and foodservice industry, sports terrain, and public social-cultural facilities. Also, characteristics of larger buffers were positively associated with MVPA, i.e. the proportions of shops and foodservice industry, sports terrain, and blue space (within an 800 m buffer), and the proportion of public social-cultural facilities (within the 800 m and 1600 m buffers). Conclusions: Objective neighborhood characteristics of smaller as well as larger sized buffers were associated with neighborhood-based LPA and MVPA. Green and blue spaces seem to be of particular importance for PA in the smallest buffer, i.e. in the direct surrounding of adults' homes.

Behavioural effects of a tradable driving credit scheme: Results of an online stated adaptation experiment in the Netherlands

Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2018

There is increasing interest in the application of tradable credit schemes in the context of pers... more There is increasing interest in the application of tradable credit schemes in the context of personal travel. To anticipate the short-term effects of a distance-based tradable driving credit (TDC) scheme, an innovative stated adaptation experiment has been conducted. Using an activity-based approach, Dutch participants who frequently commute by car could reschedule their car-based activities and alter the travel pattern they reported in an online travel diary for a full week. This paper presents the results of model estimations that describe the likelihood of changing car use and the number of kilometres driven in response to two TDC scenarios. Reductions were larger for those who experienced a loss under the measure compared to those who could expect a gain. Participants who worked more hours and who lived in non-urban areas showed lower car use reduction levels, whereas participants with middle incomes and who were 18-25 years old showed higher reduction levels. A car dependency measure was added to the models to assess how these effects are related to the availability of car use alternatives.

How do type and size of natural environments relate to physical activity behavior?

Health & Place, 2017

Natural environments (NE) are promoted as places that support physical activity (PA), but evidenc... more Natural environments (NE) are promoted as places that support physical activity (PA), but evidence on PA distribution across various types and sizes of NE is lacking. Accelerometers and GPS-devices measured PA of Dutch general population adults aged 45-65 years (N=279). Five NE types were distinguished: 'parks', 'recreational area', 'agricultural green', 'forest & moorland', and 'blue space', and four categories of size: 0-3, 3-7, 7-27, and ≥27 ha. Modality (i.e. spatially concentrated PA, walking, jogging, and cycling) and intensity (i.e. sedentary behavior, LPA, and MVPA) of PA varied significantly between NE types. Compared to parks, less sedentary behavior and walking but more spatially concentrated PA was observed in recreational areas and green space. Cycling levels were found to be significantly lower in recreational areas and forest & moorland, but higher in blue space as compared to parks. Larger sized NE (≥7 ha) were associated with higher levels of MVPA, walking, jogging and cycling. Insight in which environments (according to type and size) facilitate PA, contributes to the development of tailored PA promoting interventions with ensuing implications for public health.

Social Sustainability in an Ageing Chinese Society: Towards an Integrative Conceptual Framework

Sustainability, 2017

Social sustainability is a relatively underexposed dimension of the sustainability debate. Divers... more Social sustainability is a relatively underexposed dimension of the sustainability debate. Diversified and discipline-specific study perspectives and the lack of contextualization make it difficult to gain a comprehensive understanding of social sustainability in non-Western societies. In examining the problems facing a rapidly ageing Chinese society, this paper aims to construct an integrative conceptual framework of social sustainability, taking into account the Chinese contextual interpretations and elderly population in particular. This paper proposes an integrative conceptual framework composed of two key contextualized components: well-being and social justice. Well-being, according to Lindenberg, is the ultimate goal of life and is achieved by relevant themes organized in a hierarchical system. Social justice relating to the equal distribution of resources, opportunities, and rights is also significant for the achievement of well-being. Interpretations of social sustainability are explored within Chinese socio-cultural (Confucianism, collectivism), institutional (welfare regime, hukou system), and demographic (population ageing) contexts.

Too busy or too far away? The importance of subjective constraints and spatial factors for sports frequency

Managing Sport and Leisure, 2016

Previous studies on the association between the availability of sports facilities and sports part... more Previous studies on the association between the availability of sports facilities and sports participation have neglected the influence of subjective constraints that individuals experience with regard to sports participation. This paper investigates to what extent constraints experienced by sports participants are associated with their spatial circumstances and whether these subjective constraints or objective spatial circumstances have a greater impact on sports frequency. Based on a survey among 776 adults in urban and rural municipalities in the Netherlands, regression analyses revealed that constraints were related to neighbourhood liveability and distance to indoor sports facilities and swimming pools. Time constraints had a strong negative effect on sports frequency, but the effect of distance to indoor facilities and swimming pools was even more important. Our results furthermore indicate a growing need for flexibility in the spatiotemporal organization of sports activities and an increased importance of the public space for sports participation.

Tradable credits for managing car travel: a review of empirical research and relevant behavioural approaches

Transport Reviews, 2016

Recently, there has been a surge of interest in Tradable Credits (TC) as an alternative measure t... more Recently, there has been a surge of interest in Tradable Credits (TC) as an alternative measure to manage the growth of personal car use. This paper summarises the results and methodologies of studies that have sought to anticipate the behavioural responses to several proposed TC schemes that target personal travel. In a critical reflection on this work and in an attempt to inspire future research, we argue that future empirical studies on TC behaviours can greatly benefit from insights from the fields of behavioural economics and cognitive psychology. Therefore, in the second part of the paper, we bring together behavioural concepts from these fields that are relevant in a TC decision-making context. Based on observations from current TC studies and the behavioural mechanisms identified in the second part of the paper, we propose promising directions for future research on understanding the impact of TC on personal car travel.