Walk-along and cycle-along:
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Citation: Adlakha, D., Clarke, J., Mansour, P. and Tully, M. (2021). Walk-along and cycle-along: Accessing the benefits of the Connswater Community Greenway in Belfast, UK.
London: Property Research Trust. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52915/GHCJ1777 |
Summary:
Physical inactivity is a risk factor for numerous chronic diseases, and a mounting global health problem. It is likely that the outdoor physical environment, together with social environmental factors, has a tendency to either promote or discourage physical activity, not least in cities and other urban areas. However, the evidence base on this is sparse, making it hard to identify the best policy interventions to make, at the local or city level. This study seeks to assess the impact of one such intervention, the Connswater Community Greenway CCG), in Belfast, in Northern Ireland, UK. To do that it uses innovative methodologies, ‘Walk-along’ and ‘Cycle-along’ that involve wearable sensors and video footages, to improve our understanding of the impact of the CCG on local residents. The findings suggest that four characteristics of the CCG affect people’s activity and the benefits that the CCG created. These are physical factors, social factors, policy factors and individual factors. Each of these has many elements, with different impacts on different people using the greenway. Keywords: cycle-along, physical activity, residents' experience, walk-along, urban greenway.
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Authors
Deepti Adlakha, PhD, is a Lecturer in the School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast. Dr. Adlakha’s research investigates environmental and policy influences on physical activity using emerging technologies, spatial mapping, and mixed methods. Her work focuses on developing, evaluating, and implementing community-based interventions to prevent chronic diseases in vulnerable populations. In August 2021 Dr. Adlakha joins North Carolina State University as Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning and Director of the Natural Learning Initiative. Email: [email protected]
Jane Clarke is a PhD candidate in the School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast. Her research interests are marine spatial planning and climate change, focusing on decision-making processes to enable the transition to low-carbon economies. Her research is funded by the Northern Ireland Department for Economy and the Marine Institute of Ireland. In December 2019, Jane joined The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB-Northern Ireland) as Nature Protection Policy Officer. Email: [email protected]
Perla Mansour is a Climate Change Mitigation Officer with Climate Northern Ireland. Her work focuses on evaluating current carbon emissions contexts and climate policies to enable strategic climate mitigation action. Perla graduated with a Master of Science in City Planning and Design from Queen’s University Belfast and received the Hawker Siddeley prize for the best thesis project in relation to the Belfast One Million Trees project. Perla is also an architect and sustainable development consultant. Email: [email protected]
Mark Tully, PhD, is a Professor of Public Health at Ulster University and Director of the Institute of Mental Health Sciences. Professor Tully’s research focuses on addressing population levels of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour, which are major causes of poor physical and mental wellbeing. His research includes interventions targeting older adults and socio-economically disadvantaged communities. In addition, he is interested in the effects of changes in the built environment on behaviours. Email: [email protected]
Jane Clarke is a PhD candidate in the School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen’s University Belfast. Her research interests are marine spatial planning and climate change, focusing on decision-making processes to enable the transition to low-carbon economies. Her research is funded by the Northern Ireland Department for Economy and the Marine Institute of Ireland. In December 2019, Jane joined The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB-Northern Ireland) as Nature Protection Policy Officer. Email: [email protected]
Perla Mansour is a Climate Change Mitigation Officer with Climate Northern Ireland. Her work focuses on evaluating current carbon emissions contexts and climate policies to enable strategic climate mitigation action. Perla graduated with a Master of Science in City Planning and Design from Queen’s University Belfast and received the Hawker Siddeley prize for the best thesis project in relation to the Belfast One Million Trees project. Perla is also an architect and sustainable development consultant. Email: [email protected]
Mark Tully, PhD, is a Professor of Public Health at Ulster University and Director of the Institute of Mental Health Sciences. Professor Tully’s research focuses on addressing population levels of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour, which are major causes of poor physical and mental wellbeing. His research includes interventions targeting older adults and socio-economically disadvantaged communities. In addition, he is interested in the effects of changes in the built environment on behaviours. Email: [email protected]