tag:theconversation.com,2011:/global/topics/designing-cities-44376/articlesDesigning Cities – The Conversation2017-10-18T19:19:24Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/839612017-10-18T19:19:24Z2017-10-18T19:19:24ZDesigning suburbs to cut car use closes gaps in health and wealth<p><em>This article is one in a series, <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/healthy-liveable-cities-44685">Healthy Liveable Cities</a>, in the lead-up to the <a href="http://liveable-cities.aomevents.com.au/">Designing Healthy Liveable Cities Conference</a> in Melbourne on October 19 and 20.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Large health inequalities <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjv3O3vo-rWAhXHsJQKHXi1BNUQFggmMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adelaidenow.com.au%2Flifestyle%2Fhealth%2Faustralias-frightening-healthwealth-gap%2Fnews-story%2F7f30190e661c978537720a1db3b49188&usg=AOvVaw0Qf8w9seRsCEc9KfPJlSUc">exist</a> in Australia. Car ownership and its costs add to the health inequalities between low-income and high-income households. The physical characteristics of neighbourhoods influence our transport use and, in turn, make health inequalities better or worse.</p>
<p>Rising housing prices have forced many low-income families <a href="https://theconversation.com/density-sprawl-growth-how-australian-cities-have-changed-in-the-last-30-years-65870">to live on the fringes</a> of Australian capital cities. Residents of these sprawling outer suburbs often have <a href="http://theconversation.com/some-suburbs-are-being-short-changed-on-services-and-liveability-which-ones-and-whats-the-solution-83966">worse access</a> to public transport, employment, shops and services. They need one or more motor vehicles simply to get to work and take children to school. </p>
<p>Buying and maintaining vehicles in Australia is expensive. These costs have a large impact on household budgets. Household finances then affect health in two main ways:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>through the ability to access health-related resources, such as healthy foods, health care and high-quality living conditions (like heating and cooling)</p></li>
<li><p>through stress caused by financial difficulties, insecure incomes and exposure to poorer environments such as crowding, crime and noise pollution. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>Living in the car-dependent urban fringes also often dooms residents to <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743515003655">long sedentary</a> commutes.</p>
<h2>Four scenarios of transport costs</h2>
<p>The following four hypothetical households demonstrate the costs of varying levels of car ownership and transport behaviours. </p>
<p><strong>Scenario 1:</strong> A household with two cars that are 15,000km and 10,000km, respectively, per year. The car that is driven 15,000km is assumed to be less than three years old, bought new and financed with a loan. The other car is assumed to be 10 years old and owned outright. This household aligns with estimates by the <a href="http://www.aaa.asn.au/storage/aaa-transport-affordability-index-june-2017.pdf">Australian Automobile Association</a>. </p>
<p><strong>Scenario 2:</strong> Scenario one, minus the used car and substituting five return public transport trips a week to the Melbourne central business district from the outer suburbs.</p>
<p><strong>Scenario 3:</strong> No cars, substituting 10 return trips to the CBD from the outer suburbs.</p>
<p><strong>Scenario 4:</strong> No cars, substituting three return trips to the CBD (i.e. occasional public transport use), with walking and cycling as the main forms of transport.</p>
<p>Table 1 shows how reducing household car ownership, even after adding the cost of public transport, can improve household finances. </p>
<iframe src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/7y0Zn/2/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" oallowfullscreen="oallowfullscreen" msallowfullscreen="msallowfullscreen" width="100%" height="600"></iframe>
<p>Moving from a two-car household to a one-car household cuts weekly costs by as much as A$41, even after increased public transport use adds a A$41-a-week cost. </p>
<p>Moving from a two-car household to having no cars can improve weekly finances by as much as A$237, after adding 10 return trips to the CBD.</p>
<p>The fourth scenario, emphasising walking and cycling, shows the greatest improvement in household finances. These families are $294 per week better off.</p>
<p>The impacts on households of each of these car ownership and transport scenarios differ depending on their incomes. To illustrate this, we’ve taken the median disposable household income from the lowest, middle and highest quintiles from the <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6523.0Main+Features12015-16?OpenDocument">ABS in 2015-16</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/190506/original/file-20171016-22304-10xttga.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/190506/original/file-20171016-22304-10xttga.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=389&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/190506/original/file-20171016-22304-10xttga.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=389&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/190506/original/file-20171016-22304-10xttga.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=389&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/190506/original/file-20171016-22304-10xttga.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=489&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/190506/original/file-20171016-22304-10xttga.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=489&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/190506/original/file-20171016-22304-10xttga.PNG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=489&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Figure 1. Proportion of disposable household income remaining after transport costs for four scenarios of car ownership.</span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Although becoming car-free will increase disposable household income after paying for transport, the largest proportional differences are for the lowest-income households. This means these households will benefit most from reducing car ownership and switching to more active and affordable forms of transport.</p>
<h2>Urban design can boost household health and wealth</h2>
<p>So how do we help households make the transition from private car ownership? The answer lies in the environments we live in.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30066-6/abstract">evidence from research</a> suggests several strategies to improve uptake of active and affordable transport, while reducing car dependence and related health inequities. These include local urban design features such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>connected and safe street networks (including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure) that reduce exposure to traffic</li>
</ul>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"920012275511185408"}"></div></p>
<ul>
<li><p>residential areas mixed with commercial, public service and recreational opportunities</p></li>
<li><p>public transport that is convenient, affordable, frequent, safe and comfortable</p></li>
<li><p>higher residential density with different types of housing (including affordable housing) to support the viability of local businesses and high-frequency public transport services</p></li>
<li><p>cycling education and promotion</p></li>
<li><p>car-free pedestrian zones, traffic calming measures, signage and accessibility for all (including wheelchair and pram access).</p></li>
</ul>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"750069569302265856"}"></div></p>
<p>Australia has yet to fully realise the potential of promoting active transport and reducing car dependency as a way to reduce health inequities. </p>
<p>For example, the Victorian government <a href="http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/unlocking-new-communities-and-affordable-housing/">recently announced</a> 17 new low-density suburbs for Melbourne’s outer fringes (up to 50 kilometres from the CBD). It did so with a goal of creating more affordable housing. But urban planning experts have <a href="http://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/buying/victorian-government-to-unlock-17-new-suburbs-in-melbourne-to-tackle-housing-affordability/news-story/1fdfbcc12261365d7c4c910d39268a60">criticised</a> these plans for increasing car dependence and commute times – due to the lack of nearby destinations and amenities – <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140517300154">which have been shown</a> to be bad for health. </p>
<p>In another case, the Planning Institute of Australia <a href="https://architectureau.com/articles/retrograde-solution-west-gate-tunnel-project-a-permanent-blight-says-pia/">described</a> the proposed A$5.5 billion West Gate Tunnel as a “retrograde solution”. The institute expressed concern about “entrenched inequality for those in the outer suburbs”.</p>
<p>Changes to city transport environments can take <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01441647.2016.1177799">years or even decades</a>, and funding is often limited. Phased interventions that target lower-income neighbourhoods should be considered first as these are likely to produce the greatest gains in health equity. </p>
<p>This approach does have some caveats. Urban renewal projects carry a risk of gentrification, whereby higher and middle-income households displace those on lower incomes. Place-based government investment, such as improvements to public transport, <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-6229.2012.00339.x/full">has been shown</a> to increase local housing prices. That could force lower-income households to relocate, often to car-dependent neighbourhoods on the urban fringes. </p>
<p>In these scenarios, a lack of government policies that safeguard against displacement of low-income residents can make health inequities worse.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can read other articles in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/healthy-liveable-cities-44685">here</a>.</em></p>
<p><em>The <a href="http://liveable-cities.aomevents.com.au/">Designing Healthy Liveable Cities Conference</a> is being hosted by the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities in Melbourne on October 19-20. You can register <a href="https://aomevents.eventsair.com/nhmrc-cre-2017/wrp/Site/Register">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/83961/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jerome N Rachele receives funding from National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities (#1061404)</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Aislinn Healy is affiliated with The Public Health Association of Australia and The Australian Greens.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jim Sallis receives funding from National Institutes of Health, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The California Endowment, and Nike Inc.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Takemi Sugiyama does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>One of the most effective ways to reduce health inequalities across Australia is to design neighbourhoods that free residents from having to rely on cars for transport.Jerome N Rachele, Research Fellow in Social Epidemiology, Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic UniversityAislinn Healy, PhD Candidate, Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic UniversityJames F Sallis, Professorial Fellow, Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, and Emeritus Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San DiegoTakemi Sugiyama, Professor of Built Environment, Institute for Health & Ageing, Australian Catholic UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/839662017-10-17T19:13:31Z2017-10-17T19:13:31ZSome suburbs are being short-changed on services and liveability – which ones and what’s the solution?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189859/original/file-20171011-28106-187fwyx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">For suburbs like fast-growing Tarneit in the Wyndham area, 'hard' infrastructure gets priority, leaving 'soft' social infrastructure to catch up later. </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/zoonabar/19706317216/in/photolist-w4JhHc-t7tLx3-w2o2xW-w55ptT-w45STu-dN6xCo-jTiJEF-jTie34-db3u1r-db3w3J-db3w1m-db3u5t-db3tLp-db3tTF-db3vTL-db3w9A-db3u2k-db3tQ4-db3vSb-uXQTEq-db3tRK-db3tYD-67m3ms-oBAZKT-uYASjF-ou1hEK-oMxDLP-oXz6yQ-qoxZiM-jTkZCG-pEni5q-rD84AR-8LNZLA-u2Umrf-oQfZYK-fS2otE-PCmtmr-oy3bSQ-oy3s3N-oy3s5G-9mjFHF-oQwRLe-nYzhKs-67gJTK-S4ujA-TD2Msn-pnfb14-oU5HeJ-m4dmPs">Chris Brown/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This article is one in a series, <a href="https://theconversation.com/topics/healthy-liveable-cities-44685">Healthy Liveable Cities</a>, in the lead-up to the <a href="http://liveable-cities.aomevents.com.au/">Designing Healthy Liveable Cities Conference</a> in Melbourne on October 19 and 20.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Australia’s population has <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3218.0">grown by 3.8 million</a> over the last decade. Of the capital cities, Melbourne has grown the fastest – close to 1 million newcomers in the ten years to June 2016. </p>
<p>With such growth comes a need to expand social infrastructure – all the common social services and facilities people need over their lives which are critical for an area’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-we-create-liveable-cities-first-we-must-work-out-the-key-ingredients-50898">liveability</a>. However, our analysis shows a noticeable mismatch between the fastest-growing areas and the social infrastructure available to these communities. </p>
<p>The suburbs in the outer growth corridors of Melbourne are growing fastest, with large <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/its-a-baby-boom-melbourne-suburbs-attracting-thousands-of-new-families-20170923-gylbfu/">increases in young families</a> and school-age children. The concentration of population growth is clearly visible when growth rates across metropolitan Melbourne are mapped in Figure 1 below. </p>
<p><strong>Figure 1: Population growth rates across Melbourne</strong></p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189340/original/file-20171009-6973-17sg5zn.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189340/original/file-20171009-6973-17sg5zn.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189340/original/file-20171009-6973-17sg5zn.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189340/original/file-20171009-6973-17sg5zn.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189340/original/file-20171009-6973-17sg5zn.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189340/original/file-20171009-6973-17sg5zn.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189340/original/file-20171009-6973-17sg5zn.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189340/original/file-20171009-6973-17sg5zn.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Local Government Areas with the fastest population growth between 2006 and 2016 include Whittlesea, which increased by 62%, Cardinia by 69% and Wyndham by a staggering 98%, or 113,000 people. In stark contrast, Nillumbik had the smallest population growth of 4.5%, or 2,765 people.</p>
<p>Population growth has a huge impact on the planning of communities and the services to these. Governments use demographic data like the population statistics from the <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/censushome.nsf/home/2016?opendocument&navpos=110">Australian Bureau of Statistics Census</a> to inform policy and planning decisions on the location and funding of schools, hospitals, parks, roads and public transport. These are the physical infrastructure needed for human settlement.</p>
<p>Most attention is usually directed to such <a href="https://theconversation.com/planes-trains-and-automobiles-the-importance-of-infrastructure-7717">“hard” infrastructure</a> – such as transportation, power, water and telecommunications – which is of great significance to economic development. </p>
<p>In comparison, social infrastructure is often described as “soft” infrastructure. It’s a name that fails to reflect its important role in society and the importance to health, wellbeing and liveability. </p>
<h2>What is social infrastructure?</h2>
<p>Social infrastructure describes the common services and facilities people need across their lives. These are very important influences on the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-we-create-liveable-cities-first-we-must-work-out-the-key-ingredients-50898">liveability</a> of an area. It also refers to the amenities most people look for when making decisions about real estate or where to live. These include:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>hospitals, health services and medical centres</p></li>
<li><p>primary and secondary schools, kindergartens and child care</p></li>
<li><p>libraries, community centres and neighbourhood houses</p></li>
<li><p>public transport, walking and cycling options</p></li>
<li><p>community support agencies</p></li>
<li><p>movie theatres, museums and art galleries</p></li>
<li><p>pools, gyms, parks and public open spaces</p></li>
<li><p>police, ambulance and fire stations</p></li>
<li><p>aged care and retirement accommodation, social housing and a diverse range of housing options for all ages and demographic groups.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>These are key ingredients for liveable cities. They create the conditions needed to promote the health and wellbeing of all city residents – not just those living in affluent, well-serviced suburbs.</p>
<p>The quality and range of services available where people <a href="https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2011/09/how-does-where-we-live--work--learn-and-play-affect-our-health-.html">live, learn, work and play</a> have a direct influence on their long-term health and the future development of chronic health conditions. </p>
<p>Importantly, this means that government-funded social infrastructure has longer term benefits for universal health prevention. As a result, good design and planning of well-serviced communities directly benefits all levels of society.</p>
<h2>Social infrastructure in Melbourne</h2>
<p>Social infrastructure should be fairly and equitably distributed across cities. However, the fastest growing suburbs of Melbourne, with increasing numbers of families and children, are the areas with the least services (Figure 2). </p>
<p><strong>Figure 2: Levels of social infrastructure across Melbourne</strong></p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189341/original/file-20171009-6967-mhewzp.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189341/original/file-20171009-6967-mhewzp.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189341/original/file-20171009-6967-mhewzp.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189341/original/file-20171009-6967-mhewzp.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189341/original/file-20171009-6967-mhewzp.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189341/original/file-20171009-6967-mhewzp.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189341/original/file-20171009-6967-mhewzp.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189341/original/file-20171009-6967-mhewzp.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=533&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">/</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This disparity is largely because current methods of planning social infrastructure are based on projected population targets measured before services are delivered to new areas. </p>
<p>People living in new suburbs have to wait for enough people to move in before government can justify delivering new social infrastructure. This means it can be years before important services like local schools, parks and community facilities are built. </p>
<p>The current approach to social infrastructure planning encourages car dependence, social isolation and stark inequity across our cities. This has a devastating impact on the liveability of some areas and the health and wellbeing of residents.</p>
<p>It’s particularly unfair when people are often forced to move to outer growth areas in search of affordable housing. This creates a breeding ground for <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/health/features/stories/2015/05/14/4235445.htm">complex social problems</a>, mental and physical health disparities. <a href="https://theconversation.com/build-in-good-services-from-day-one-for-healthier-communities-lessons-from-selandra-rise-58790">The result is</a> communities where people have less time and opportunity to live a healthy, active lifestyle and connect with each other.</p>
<h2>Creating more liveable communities from the start</h2>
<p>Building new infrastructure is very costly. The simple solution is for well-serviced inner and middle suburbs to share their existing social infrastructure with new neighbours. </p>
<p>This means increasing densities in these areas and sharing existing services (take note “not-in-my-backyard” development opponents). This is a key recommendation of the Infrastrcture Victoria <a href="http://www.infrastructurevictoria.com.au/sites/default/files/images/IV%2030%20Year%20Strategy%20WEB%20V2.PDF">30-year plan</a> and consistent with the <a href="http://www.planmelbourne.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/377206/Plan_Melbourne_2017-2050_Strategy_.pdf">Plan Melbourne</a> goal of maintaining liveability. </p>
<p>New suburbs will also continue to be developed. Here, social infrastructure needs to be in place before people move in. This is important because changing the methods used to determine social infrastructure requirements in advance will also dramatically improve the liveability of these areas.</p>
<p>A more equitable method for social infrastructure planning is based on access. Hard infrastructure, like roads, is built as development occurs, and the same model should apply to the provision of social infrastructure. This will ensure easy and close access to social facilities and services, which in turn will create healthier and more liveable communities.</p>
<p>Government planning processes and developer contributions need to be rethought. We have much to learn from the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-10/whitzman-we-can-learn-from-vancouver,-portland/6383772">Canadians</a>, who have been using these methods for years.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can read other articles in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/topics/healthy-liveable-cities-44685">here</a>.</em></p>
<p><em>The <a href="http://liveable-cities.aomevents.com.au/">Designing Healthy Liveable Cities Conference</a> is being hosted by the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities in Melbourne on October 19-20. You can register <a href="https://aomevents.eventsair.com/nhmrc-cre-2017/wrp/Site/Register">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/83966/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Melanie Davern receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub of the National Environmental Science Programme</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Lucy Gunn receives funding from the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Carl Higgs, Claire Boulange, and Rebecca Roberts do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Traditionally, new communities first get hard infrastructure – schools, hospitals, transport – and ‘soft’ social infrastructure comes later. Liveability and public health suffer as a result.Melanie Davern, Senior Research Fellow, Healthy Liveable Cities Group, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT UniversityCarl Higgs, Research Officer, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT UniversityClaire Boulange, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT UniversityLucy Gunn, Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT UniversityRebecca Roberts, GIS Analyst, Centre for Urban Studies, RMIT UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/839672017-10-12T06:04:07Z2017-10-12T06:04:07ZThis is what our cities need to do to be truly liveable for all<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189938/original/file-20171012-9795-1muzw0w.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">While parts of Australian capital cities are highly liveable, access to the features that underpin liveability is highly unequal. </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/melbourne-australia-apr-12-people-walking-412050490?src=EYHPr-esg9cP5M4A8nGYXQ-1-13">kittis/shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This article is one in a series, <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/healthy-liveable-cities-44685">Healthy Liveable Cities</a>, in the lead-up to the <a href="http://liveable-cities.aomevents.com.au/">Designing Healthy Liveable Cities Conference</a> in Melbourne on October 19 and 20.</em></p>
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<p>Urban planners, governments and developers are increasingly interested in making cities “liveable”. But what features contribute to liveability? Which areas in cities are the least and most liveable? The various liveability rankings – <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-16/melbourne-named-worlds-most-liveable-city-for-seventh-year/8812196">where Australia tends to do quite well</a> – don’t provide much useful guidance.</p>
<p>In a recently released report, <a href="http://cur.org.au/project/national-liveability-report/">Creating Liveable Cities in Australia</a>, our team defined and produced the first baseline measure of liveability in Australia’s capital cities. </p>
<p>We broke down liveability into seven “domains”: walkability, public transport, public open space, housing affordability, employment, the food environment, and the alcohol environment. This definition is based on what we found to be critical factors for creating <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-we-create-liveable-cities-first-we-must-work-out-the-key-ingredients-50898">liveable, sustainable and healthy communities</a>. </p>
<p>Each of the liveability domains is linked by evidence to health and wellbeing outcomes. They are also measurable at the individual house, suburb and city level. This means we can compare areas within and between cities. </p>
<p>While all seven domains are important, three are explored here in more detail. </p>
<h2>Walkability</h2>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189894/original/file-20171012-9795-1mt8wl8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189894/original/file-20171012-9795-1mt8wl8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189894/original/file-20171012-9795-1mt8wl8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189894/original/file-20171012-9795-1mt8wl8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=900&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189894/original/file-20171012-9795-1mt8wl8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189894/original/file-20171012-9795-1mt8wl8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189894/original/file-20171012-9795-1mt8wl8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1131&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Urban planning that encourages walking is crucial for liveable cities.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Julianna Rozek/Author provided</span></span>
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<p>In liveable cities, streets and neighbourhoods are designed to encourage walking instead of driving. Homes, jobs, shops, schools and other everyday destinations are within easy walking distance of each other. The street network is convenient for pedestrians, with high-quality footpaths, short blocks, few cul-de-sacs and higher-density housing. </p>
<p>Walkability is an important factor in liveability because it promotes <a href="https://theconversation.com/death-by-suburban-sprawl-better-urban-planning-will-combat-sedentary-lifestyles-3395">active forms of transport</a>. Increasingly physically inactive and sedentary lifestyles are a global health problem, and contribute to around <a href="http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_inactivity/en/">3.2 million preventable deaths a year</a>. In Australia, 60% of adults and 70% of children and adolescents <a href="http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/health-pubhlth-strateg-active-evidence.htm">do not get enough exercise</a>.</p>
<p>We measured walkability using a combination of features that are linked to health benefits. Our “walkability index” included housing density, access to everyday destinations and street connectivity within 1,600 metres of a residence. This is a commonly used “walkable” distance, equivalent to about 20 minutes’ walk, and features within this affect <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21631958">how likely a person is to walk</a>. </p>
<p>However, walkable neighbourhoods achieve their full potential only when residents have easy access to employment – particularly by public transport. </p>
<h2>Public transport</h2>
<p>Liveable cities promote public transport use instead of driving. Most homes are within easy walking distance of transport stops, and services are frequent enough to be convenient. </p>
<p>Good access to public transport supports community health in two ways: by <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16242589">encouraging walking</a> and by reducing dependence on driving. </p>
<p>Australian cities have largely been designed for cars, at the cost of community health. Each hour spent driving can increase a person’s risk of obesity by <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15261894">around 6%</a>. Road-traffic accidents are the eighth-leading cause of <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30066-6/abstract">death and disability globally</a>, and one of the leading causes of death in <a href="http://203.2.121.30/deaths/leading-causes-of-death/">Australians up to the age of 44</a>. </p>
<p>Cars are also a major source of <a href="https://theconversation.com/counting-the-ways-vehicle-emissions-still-make-us-sick-658">urban air pollution</a> and noise, which are harmful to mental and physical health.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://preventioncentre.org.au/our-work/research-projects/creating-liveable-and-healthy-communities/">previous work</a>, our team found that people were more likely to walk for transport if they had a public transport stop within 400 metres of their home. The service frequency was also important – it needed to be least every 30 minutes on a normal weekday.</p>
<p>In Creating Liveable Cities in Australia we used this combined measure to map the percentage of homes in a suburb, local government area, or city with close access to frequent public transport.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189892/original/file-20171012-9833-1pcoubs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189892/original/file-20171012-9833-1pcoubs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/189892/original/file-20171012-9833-1pcoubs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=308&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189892/original/file-20171012-9833-1pcoubs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=308&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189892/original/file-20171012-9833-1pcoubs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=308&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189892/original/file-20171012-9833-1pcoubs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=387&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189892/original/file-20171012-9833-1pcoubs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=387&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/189892/original/file-20171012-9833-1pcoubs.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=387&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Creating Liveable Cities in Australia</span></span>
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<h2>Public open space</h2>
<p>In liveable communities, most people live within walking distance of a green, publicly accessible open space such as a park, playground or reserve. </p>
<p>Green space has <a href="https://theconversation.com/green-space-how-much-is-enough-and-whats-the-best-way-to-deliver-it-77393">many physical and mental health benefits</a> for people, and social and environmental benefits for communities. Parks provide opportunities for <a href="https://theconversation.com/most-people-just-park-themselves-so-how-do-we-promote-more-healthy-activity-in-public-parks-56421">physical activity</a>, such as jogging, ball sports and dog walking. </p>
<p>Increasingly, research is finding clear links between living in neighbourhoods with lots of parks and <a href="http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)01284-2/abstract">higher physical activity</a>.</p>
<p>Urban green spaces are also important for plants and animals <a href="https://theconversation.com/concrete-jungle-well-have-to-do-more-than-plant-trees-to-bring-wildlife-back-to-our-cities-51047">displaced by urban development</a> and provide other <a href="https://theconversation.com/higher-density-cities-need-greening-to-stay-healthy-and-liveable-75840">environmental benefits</a>. The cooling effect of trees and green spaces can play an important part in maintaining the liveability of Australian cities, particularly as heatwaves in Melbourne and Sydney are <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-reality-of-living-with-50-temperatures-in-our-major-cities-85315">likely to reach 50°C by 2040</a>.</p>
<p>In soon-to-be-published work, having access to a public open space within 400 metres (about a five-minute walk) of at least 1.5 hectares in area was associated with recreational walking. </p>
<p>For this report, we struggled to find a dataset of public open space that was consistent and available nationally. Some areas have high-quality data available from previous research projects or local councils, and satellite imagery provides useful information about tree cover. </p>
<p>However, national data standards are needed to enable cities to benchmark and monitor their progress in meeting liveability targets.</p>
<h2>The liveable city is greater than the sum of its parts</h2>
<p>The phrase “liveable city” conjures up a vision of leafy streets, happy residents walking, cycling or catching public transport, and children playing in neighbourhood parks. This image, while inspiring, is not useful for urban planners and governments who are working to make cities more liveable.</p>
<p>Distilling liveability into seven domains, which can be measured and are linked to health and wellbeing outcomes, provides policymakers and practitioners with what they need to ensure we maintain and enhance the liveability of our cities as they grow. </p>
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<p><em>You can read other articles in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/topics/healthy-liveable-cities-44685">here</a>.</em></p>
<p><em>You can hear more from researchers involved in Creating Liveable Cities in Australia at the <a href="http://liveable-cities.aomevents.com.au/">Designing Healthy Liveable Cities Conference</a> on October 19-20 in Melbourne. It’s being hosted by the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities and you can register <a href="https://aomevents.eventsair.com/nhmrc-cre-2017/wrp/Site/Register">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/83967/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Julianna Rozek receives funding from the National Environment Science Program Clean Air and Urban Landscape Hub funded by the Department of the Environment; the National Health and Medical Research Council and The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Billie Giles-Corti receives funding from the National Environment Science Program Clean Air and Urban Landscape Hub funded by the Department of the Environment; the National Health and Medical Research Council and The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre.</span></em></p>The challenge of creating liveable communities across Australia’s capital cities comes down to seven key factors. And assessed on this basis, parts of our cities don’t fare so well.Julianna Rozek, Research Officer, Healthy Liveable Cities Group, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT UniversityBillie Giles-Corti, Director, Urban Futures Enabling Capability Platform and Director, Healthy Liveable Cities Group, RMIT UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/839622017-10-11T19:15:52Z2017-10-11T19:15:52ZEight simple changes to our neighbourhoods can help us age well<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/188921/original/file-20171005-21950-eewdw6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Staying physically active can play a big part in ageing well – and a well-designed neighbourhood helps with that.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/elderly-people-walking-park-326581544">Maylat/shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This article is the first in a series, <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/healthy-liveable-cities-44685">Healthy Liveable Cities</a>, in the lead-up to the <a href="http://liveable-cities.aomevents.com.au/">Designing Healthy Liveable Cities Conference</a> in Melbourne on October 19 and 20.</em></p>
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<p>Where we live can play a big part in ageing well, largely because of the links between physical activity and wellbeing. <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/2181/AHURI_Final_Report_No214_Downsizing-amongst-older-Australians.pdf">Research shows</a> that two-thirds of Australians prefer to age in place. That is, we want to live independently in our homes for as long as we can. Our neighbourhoods and their design can then improve or hinder our ability to get out of the house and be physically active.</p>
<p>The rapid ageing of Australia’s population only adds to the importance of neighbourhood design. In 2016, 15% of Australians were aged 65 or older. That proportion is <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/population-groups/older-people/overview">projected to double</a> by 2056.</p>
<p>These trends present several <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-statistics/population-groups/older-people/reports">social and economic challenges</a>, particularly for the health sector. Designing neighbourhoods in ways that promote physical activity can help overcome these challenges. </p>
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<p><em><strong>Further reading: <a href="https://theconversation.com/contested-spaces-we-need-to-see-public-space-through-older-eyes-too-72261">Contested spaces: we need to see public space through older eyes too</a></strong></em></p>
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<h2>Eight simple steps</h2>
<p>The following is a short list of <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-017-0471-5">evidence-based steps</a> local and state governments can take to assist older people to be physically active. These involve minor but effective changes to neighbourhood design.</p>
<p><strong>Improve footpaths:</strong> Research indicates that older people have a <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-older-people-get-osteoporosis-and-have-falls-68145">higher risk of falls</a>. Ensuring footpaths are level and crack-free, and free from obstructions, will encourage walking among older people – especially those with a disability.</p>
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<p><strong>Connected pedestrian networks:</strong> Introducing footpaths at the end of no-through-roads and across long street blocks reduces walking distances to destinations. This makes walking a more viable option.</p>
<p><strong>Slowing traffic in high-pedestrian areas:</strong> Slowing traffic <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/images/uploads/publications/Safe-Speed-Evidence-Report.pdf">improves safety</a> by reducing the risk of a collision. It also reduces the risk of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28557669">death and serious injury</a> in the event of a collision. </p>
<p><strong>Age-friendly street crossings:</strong> Installing longer pedestrian crossing light sequences gives older pedestrians <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/41/5/690/47318/Most-older-pedestrians-are-unable-to-cross-the">more time to cross</a>, and installing refuge islands means those who walk more slowly can cross the street in two stages.</p>
<p><strong>Disabled access at public transport:</strong> Although a form of motorised transport, public transport users undertake more incidental physical activity compared with car users. This is because they walk between transit stops and their origins and destinations. Improving disabled access helps make public transport a viable option for more older people.</p>
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<p><strong>Places to rest:</strong> <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2458-13-1054">Providing rest spots</a> such as benches enables older people to break up their walk and rest when needed.</p>
<p><strong>Planting trees:</strong> Planting trees <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953614004109?via%3Dihub">creates more pleasant scenery</a> to enjoy on a walk. It also provides shade on hot days.</p>
<p><strong>Improving safety:</strong> Ensuring that streets are well-lit and reducing graffiti and signs of decay are likely to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24552845">improve perceptions of safety</a> among older people.</p>
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<p><em><strong>Further reading: <a href="https://theconversation.com/contested-spaces-a-users-guide-to-shared-paths-72186">Contested spaces: a user’s guide to shared paths</a></strong></em></p>
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<h2>Why physical activity matters</h2>
<p>Physical function – the ability to undertake everyday activities such as walking, bathing and climbing stairs – often declines as people age. The reason for this is that ageing is often accompanied by a reduction in muscle strength, flexibility and cardiorespiratory reserves.</p>
<p>Regular physical activity can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14552936">prevent or slow the decline</a> in physical function, even among those with existing health conditions. </p>
<p>Middle-to-older aged adults can reduce their risk of physical function decline <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1479-5868-7-38">by 30%</a> with regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes per week). This includes recreational physical activity, like walking the dog, or incidental physical activity, such as walking to the shops or to visit friends.</p>
<p>By making minor changes as outlined above, the health and longevity of our elderly population can be extended. Such changes will help our elderly age well in place.</p>
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<p><em>You can read other articles in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/topics/healthy-liveable-cities-44685">here</a>.</em></p>
<p><em>The <a href="http://liveable-cities.aomevents.com.au/">Designing Healthy Liveable Cities Conference</a> is being hosted by the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities in Melbourne on October 19-20. You can register <a href="https://aomevents.eventsair.com/nhmrc-cre-2017/wrp/Site/Register">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/83962/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jerome N Rachele receives funding from National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities (#1061404)</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jim Sallis receives funding from National Institutes of Health, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The California Endowment, and Nike Inc. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Venurs Loh receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Excellence in Healthy, Liveable & Equitable Communities (#1061404).</span></em></p>Our ageing population presents several social and economic challenges, particularly for the health sector. Physical activity can tackle many of these.Jerome N Rachele, Research Fellow in Social Epidemiology, Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic UniversityJames F Sallis, Professorial Fellow, Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, and Emeritus Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San DiegoVenurs Loh, PhD Candidate, Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.