Physical Activity Through Sustainable Transport Approaches
The PASTA project aims to analyze urban transport measures that support active mobility (walking and cycling, also in combination with public transport) and evaluate their effects on the physical activity and health of citizens. The project lasts 4 years (01.11.2013 - 31.10.2017) and is funded by FP7 - Health program (Framework Programme 7 - Health).
The consortium includes experts in the fields of health, physical activity, transport planning, road safety, air quality and European networks of communication. It will review the documentation on active mobility to identify measures and initiatives to promote both active mobility and actions related to road safety.
In Rome (case-study city along with Antwerp, Barcelona, London, Orebro, Vienna and Zurich) an extensive study will be conducted to evaluate the active mobility initiatives under way, combined with interventions for road safety, for a better understanding of the effects on physical activity, the risk of injury and the exposure to air pollution. Fundamental measures to support study will be a critical enlargement of the pedestrian zone of the "Tridente" zone in the historical center, the extension of the mobility corridors for the benefit of public transport and sustainable modes of transportation and the implementation of local development plans, with the reorganization of roadways. In WP3, of which it is the leader, Rome will have to select a sample of 2,000 people willing to change and monitor their lifestyle by improving their active mobility for a period of time to be determined. The results will be made available to the project for the appropriate analyses.
Rome, a case-study city
Within the PASTA project the city of Rome, in accordance with the guidelines of the 2014 General Plan of Urban Traffic, will set up 300 new bicycle racks at schools and public buildings, for a total of 3,000 bike rack slots. This measure will be accompanied by new policies for increasing the Active Mobility in cities and the reduction of physical inactivity, which contributes worldwide (according to the official WHO data) to 3.2 million deaths a year.
The use of bicycles, together with walking in urban areas (especially in times of peak congestion) has been shown to have good effects in reducing air pollution, thereby improving both the quality of life and the health of citizens in general . Therefore the Agency for Mobility and Roma Capitale, through the European project PASTA, encourage and promote sustainable transport policies, especially if combined with the use of local public transport.
On January 15th 2016, at Casa della Città (via della Moletta 85), the handover ceremony of 20 foldable bikes, randomly sorted among all participants.
More information
- The P.A.S.T.A. project
- P.A.S.T.A. Roma on the web
- @PASTARoma on Twitter follow #pastaproject