Active Transportation Equity and Infrastructure Planning

Active transportation equity and infrastructure planning focus on designing and implementing urban systems in which walking, cycling and other non-motorised modes are accessible, safe and valued across all social groups. This field addresses historical underinvestment in neighbourhoods with high deprivation and demographic diversity, recognising the role of the built environment in shaping travel choices, public health outcomes and environmental sustainability. By integrating principles of social equity into transport planning, scholars and practitioners seek to redistribute benefits—such as reduced traffic danger, improved air quality and enhanced physical activity—to communities that have traditionally lacked safe and connected routes. Key considerations include the distribution of facilities such as separated lanes, pedestrian priority zones and low traffic neighbourhoods, as well as regulation, policy frameworks and community engagement processes that ensure inclusive decision-making. Interdisciplinary approaches draw on public health, urban design and social science to evaluate how infrastructure interventions interact with socioeconomic position, age, gender and cultural norms. With a growing emphasis on decarbonisation, equity-oriented planning also contributes to the transition towards low-emission mobility by ensuring that sustainable modes are within reach for all citizens, thereby supporting broader goals of climate justice and resilient urban futures.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have explored the lived experiences of delivery cyclists in metropolitan settings, uncovering critical insights into safety perceptions and infrastructural needs. Participants emphasise the importance of continuous, physically separated lanes that reduce exposure to motor traffic and support efficient route choice. Riders advocate for regulatory measures to formalise the sharing of street space and standardise protective provisions, such as designated loading zones and time-specific access controls. The work underscores the intersection of labour conditions and urban design, demonstrating that meaningful improvements in active transport equity require concurrent policy reform and built environment enhancements.

Active Transportation Equity and Infrastructure Planning publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in active transportation equity and infrastructure planning across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Active transportation: Modes of travel that rely on human physical activity, such as walking and cycling.

Transport equity: Principle that all population groups should share fairly in the benefits and burdens of transportation systems.

Separated infrastructure: Physically distinct facilities for active travellers, separated from motorised traffic to enhance safety.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods: Residential zones where through motor traffic is restricted, often using physical traffic calming and modal filters.

Modal filters: Measures that allow passage of pedestrians and cyclists while preventing through-motor traffic.

Socioeconomic position: A composite measure of an individual’s or area’s economic and social status, influencing access to opportunities.

Greenhouse gas emissions: Gases released by transport activities that contribute to climate change, often measured in CO₂ equivalents.

References

1. Infrastructure, regulation and the experiences of delivery cyclists in Australian cities. Nature Cities (2024).
2. Socioeconomic inequalities in greenhouse gas emissions from household travel in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Travel Behaviour and Society (2024).
3. Equity in new active travel infrastructure: A spatial analysis of London's new Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. Journal of Transport Geography (2021).
4. COVID-19 street reallocation in mid-sized Canadian cities: socio-spatial equity patterns. Canadian Journal of Public Health (2021).