Active Transport: why and where do people (not) walk or cycle?

Guest Managing Editor: Seraphim Alvanides (Northumbria University, UK) S.Alvanides@Northumbria.ac.uk

Submission deadline: May 25th 2014, this is immutable; manuscripts submitted after 23.59 (UK time) on 25th May 2014 will be considered for general issues of the journal.

The increasing emphasis on active forms of transport as a result of health threats and environmental concerns is slowly finding its way into policy initiatives. Yet, the modal shift from motorised to active transport is slower than expected and for some cities and countries it is stagnating. Clearly, more needs to be done to encourage walking and cycling, in recognition of the potential health and environmental benefits, but the evidence base for interventions is still relatively weak.

Why and where do people choose to walk or travel and what constraints are facing those who do not?  Do people walk and cycle because of the perceived health benefits, because it is seen as sustainable and environmentally friendly or is it simply a necessity for some people, especially in the current economic climate? For this special issue we seek submissions encompassing transport and health research on walking and/or cycling, with an emphasis on geographical and spatial perspectives. Much of the interest on active transport comes from outside of geography, with public health and built environment professionals and researchers exploring the role of non-motorised modes on health outcomes.

We invite researchers and professionals from the fields of transport or health to consider a geographical perspective on active transport. We also invite colleagues from the fields of transport / social / health geography and spatial sciences to consider how we can influence public policy and more theoretically the role of geography.

Topics of interest include all aspects of active transport with an emphasis on space. Notably, the social and spatial distribution of active forms of transport, the impact of walking and/or cycling on health outcomes, the constraints restricting further modal shift towards non-motorised transport, as well as theoretical considerations on the geography of active transport.

All contributions will be peer reviewed according to the usual standards of the journal.

Submission: Please submit your manuscript online via http://ees.elsevier.com/jth/default.asp  When choosing Manuscript “Article Type” of the submission procedure, click “SI: Walking & Cycling” otherwise your submission will be handled as a regular manuscript.

Dr Jennifer Mindell

Clinical senior lecturer

Health and Social Surveys Research Group

Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health

UCL

1-19 Torrington Place

London WC1E 6BT

Tel. 020 7679 1269 (Internal x41269)

Survey doctor: 07770-537238

Fax 020 7813 0242

Email: j.mindell@ucl.ac.uk

Web: IRIS web page

Journal of Transport and Health: www.elsevier.com/locate/jth