Green street planning in Portugal does not align with active ageing

Despite the positive environmental impacts that have been observed with the development of green streets, a study carried out at Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa warns that they often do not include essential elements for older people, such as accessible sidewalks, rest areas or safety measures, raising concerns about social inclusion.

© 2024 Mariana Montalvão (GreenCity4Aging) | Iscte

All over the world, active mobility policies have been developed with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the impact of climate change. The creation of more green spaces and cycle paths are some of these measures. However, a study carried out at Iscte warns of the need for urban planning to consider public policies on active ageing.

In this study, the research team explored the intersection between urban planning and inclusion, focusing on how green streets, particularly those that integrate vegetation and soft mobility, can support the mobility and well-being of older adults. “The planning of the urban design of green streets has been based on the mitigation of climate change and the promotion of well-being, and has therefore included an increase in green spaces and physical exercise, and the creation of cycle paths,” explains André Samora-Arvela, professor at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto and integrated researcher at the Information Sciences, Technologies and Architecture Research Centre (ISTAR-Iscte), first author of the study. “In this study we assessed the degree of alignment of public policies on active mobility and active ageing at international, national and local level, which in this case refers to the city of Lisbon,” explains the researcher. The aim was to diagnose the extent to which active mobility policies respect the guidelines of active ageing strategies.

The results of the study suggest that although international and municipal policies currently emphasize age-friendly urban environments, active ageing strategies in Portugal remain disconnected from active mobility policies. “In line with the international panorama, our results indicate that Portugal has made progress in defining sustainable mobility policies driven by climate goals,” says Sara Eloy, architect, professor at the University of Antwerp and associate researcher at ISTAR-Iscte. According to this analysis, active mobility (pedestrian and cycling) in Portugal seems to have resulted essentially from the experience and study of policies implemented in Lisbon, exemplifying how municipal practice can influence national practice. However, in contrast to international policies, ageing policies in Portugal still appear to be disconnected from active mobility policies.

Why is it important to consider active ageing in mobility policies and urban planning?

According to Sibila Marques, a social psychologist, professor at Iscte and researcher at the Center for Psychological Research and Social Intervention (CIS-Iscte), “including active aging strategies in mobility policies is essential to promote more accessible, safe and inclusive cities for all people”. If the development of streets doesn't take into account the point of view of older people, “we risk increasing their social isolation, decreasing their autonomy, reinforcing social inequalities and ageism”, warns the researcher. Mariana Montalvão, a research fellow at CIS-Iscte, also recalls that poor street design can “ jeopardize the safety of older people”, giving as an example the Portuguese pavement (calçada portuguesa), which, due to lack of maintenance, is often a danger to people of any age. Representing a question of social justice and inclusion, these and other risks can compromise the quality of life of older people, potentially increasing the pressure on health and care systems.

For this research team, the analysis carried out leads to the conclusion that green streets and initiatives related to the climate transition have been developed mainly at municipal level, but often without a consistent participatory or inclusive approach. “To create truly inclusive cities it is essential to also consider the point of view of older people through, for example, participatory projects,” suggests and emphasizes Sibila Marques.

“To be successful, policies must be implemented with everyone and for everyone,” reads the conclusion of the published article. This study was carried out as part of the GreenCity4Aging (REF. 2022.03478.PTDC), funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and coordinated by Sibila Marques and Sara Eloy.

Text written by Pedro Simão Mendes (Science Communication Manager)