Transportation Policy: A Matter of Public Health

Urban life presents a variety of challenges to personal health, from sedentary jobs to air pollution to the stress of long commutes behind the wheel. But simply designing cities for pedestrians and cyclists, Pittman argues, can have a profound impact on health in a city.

Thus, shifting the focus of the transportation discussion from sustainability to longevity can change the way we look at policy solutions. "A hybrid car, for instance, may be excellent for the environment but makes us no less sedentary." Instead, compact and pedestrian-friendly land uses can promote healthier habits on an individual level, reducing the burden of healthcare costs.

An equally important shift in the dialogue, Pittman points out, is to broaden the scope beyond hot-topic, global cities like New York and Copenhagen. "Addressing problems of health at a meaningful scale will mean contending with the realities of all our cities, not just those where it's easiest or where we can be most opportunistic." The modern epidemics of diabetes and obesity are equally pressing in cities like Atlanta, Houston, and Phoenix, where alternative urban policy may not be as readily embraced.

"In the U.S., many of the communities built in the past 50 years have regressed," Pittman writes. "Cities designed and built around the car have 'engineered walking and bicycling out' of many of our communities... And as other countries pursue economic growth, and the follow-on urbanization, many have emulated our failed approaches compounding the problem globally."