Liveable Cities

The world is no longer mostly rural; about half the people in the world now live in cities. The built environment of cities has an enormous impact on health, particularly that of marginalized women and the poor.

Cities are a major source of pollution, and their design affects the ability and willingness of their residents to be physically active, mobile, and gainfully employed, which in turn has an enormous impact on their health and economic status.

Beyond strictly health and environmental concerns, the design of cities is significantly connected to quality of life: cities can encourage crime, isolation, and social aggressiveness, or friendliness, community, and harmony.

The goal of our program is to improve health, equity, and the environment in cities in developing countries, through sound urban design and transport policies that focus on access, fuel-free transport, mass transit, and qualities that make cities more liveable such as accessible public spaces and green space.

Through this program we aim to:

• Improve the social and physical environment of cities;
• Reduce inequity through transport investments, while increasing overall quality of life;
• Reduce poverty through reduced transport costs and increased employment opportunities for the poor;
• Improve gender equity through increased mobility of women and girls; and
• Reduce obesity and chronic disease through increased physical activity and improved nutrition.

HealthBridge works in partnership with local NGOs, academic institutions, and government in Asia to promote sound urban design that supports healthy lifestyles, gender equity, poverty reduction, and a cleaner environment.

Our areas of focus include:

• Promoting policies that benefit improved health through improved access (e.g., to healthy food) and increased physical activity;
• Promoting "mixed use" urban design and public/green spaces (people friendly, transit friendly, conviviality; that encourages social interaction);
• Promoting transport decisions that take into account cost externalities and other negative impacts in transport policy making;
• Promoting policies that facilitate non-motorized and mass transit.

HealthBridge is a member of the World Carfree Network.