Multi-strategy intervention for promoting bicycle mobility, health, and sustainability in the context of existing city development in Düsseldorf (UNITY)
Study objective:
The improvement of green public transport and the further development and expansion of a bicycle route network are important elements of a sustainable, climate-friendly and health-promoting urban environment. In Düsseldorf, a variety of integrated urban development concepts to promote cycling will be implemented in the coming years as part of mobility plan D. A consortium of researchers from the Heinrich-Heine University and the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with a steering committee of the city of Düsseldorf will evaluate existing approaches of sustainable cycling mobility, physical activity and healthy environmental conditions. Finally a concept and an evaluation for a multistrategic intervention, which will be refined and expanded, will be implemented.
Specific objectives
- The specific objectives listed below refer to the second project phase, which has not yet been approved.
- To develop a multi-strategic intervention to promote physical activity and healthy living in different social districts using existing plans to create a new bicycle infrastructure in Düsseldorf.
- To evaluate the acceptance and use of the multistrategic intervention and its effects on physical activity and health in different social districts.
- To measure ambient air pollution on residential streets in high and low traffic areas and on different cycling routes.
- To conduct a semi-controlled crossover study investigating different health effects of air pollution by cycling in high and low traffic areas in the city of Düsseldorf.
Study design:
- Part 1: Pragmatic trial with pre/post design (estimated n=700)
- Part 2: Randomized semi-controlled crossover study (estimated n=60)
Study population:
Adult citizens of Düsseldorf
Study area:
City of Düsseldorf
Study period:
2023-2025
Current status:
Development of the main application; conceptual development phase;
Collaborators
- Prof. Dr. Konradin Weber, Fachbereich für Maschinenbau und Verfahrenstechnik Hochschule Düsseldorf
- Tobias Pohl, Fachbereich für Maschinenbau und Verfahrenstechnik Hochschule Düsseldorf
- Prof. Dr. Oliver Kuß, Institut für Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Deutsches Diabetes-Zentrum
Project Team Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf
- Prof. Dr. Claudia Pischke
- Dr. Simone Weyers
- Prof. Dr. Barbara Hoffmann
- Dr. Vanessa Soppa
Cooperation Partners
- Jochen Kral, Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf, Amt für Verkehrsmanagement
- Rolf Neumann, Connected mobility GmbH
- Dr. Audrey de Nazelle, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London
- Prof. Dr. Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen, SGlobal Barcelona Institute für Global Health
External Funding
Bundeministerium für Bildung und Forschung
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