City Know-hows
The ‘runnability of cities’ as a novel spatial planning approach can enhance healthier and more enabling environments for everyone.
Share
Target audience
City planners, majors, politicians, local governments and sports agencies
The problem
The significance of healthy environments is gaining greater prominence, especially since the recent Covid-19 pandemic that enhanced the importance of safe and accessible spaces for urban residents. Yet, urban spaces are under pressure and dedicated approaches are needed in order to prioritise space for healthy communities.
What we did and why
We investigated the concepts of healthy environments, healthy cities, contemporary challenges of our cities, healthy communities, and runnable cities to unpack the notion of ‘runnability’ within the spatial planning context. We introduced the notion of ‘runnability’ in context of the perceived attractiveness and qualify of the urban environment. We call for a global runnable cities approach.
Our study’s contribution
This study positions the ‘runnability of cities’ as a spatial planning approach and as a result:
• Enhance global progress towards healthier, enabling environments for all.
• Provides a new perspective to spatial planning and healthy communities
• Showcase case studies where various elements (social, environmental and economic) relevant to runnable cities have been explored.
Impacts for city policy and practice
This research provides a novel approach to city planning through the lens of runnability. By positioning “runnable cities” as a spatial planning objective, significant progress can be made towards the development of healthier and health enabling environments worldwide.
Further information
Full research article:
Towards healthier, enabling environments for all: positioning the ‘runnability of cities’ as a spatial planning approach by Jua Cilliers and Slawomir Ledwon
Related posts
Our study shows that young autistic adults and older adults face similar patterns with walking, particularly at night or for leisure activities. These findings highlight a very poor health prospects for autistic adults as they age due to lack of physical and social activity. These findings underscore the need to rethink urban spaces for diverse needs. By identifying these patterns, we provide a foundation for creating urban environments that are more inclusive, accessible, and supportive of sustained physical activity and better health outcomes for autistic individuals as they age.
Health is rarely prioritized in urban decision making. Requiring Health Impact Assessment obliges developers to focus on questions of health. Some local authorities require this, but not all. This is the first paper to undertake a comprehensive review of when and where Health Impact Assessment is required in England, and to set out ways to make the process more effective.
We tested whether living closer to daily destinations is associated with improved health across major U.S. cities. Neighborhoods with stronger 15-minute accessibility consistently showed lower rates of chronic disease, suggesting that planning for proximity might support healthier urban living.
