About this Research Topic

Background

In the city, transportation problems are abundant, and exist within various sectors including the economy, city environment, safety, public health, and many others. Researchers have analyzed transportation trends and its role in society's well-being, and have come up with several solutions. Active transport, which is wholly or primarily powered by human energy (e.g. walking, running, and bicycling), is more sustainable than other modes of transportation. It has obtained significant attention, especially with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, many thinkers and scientists in the field of transportation advocate relying on active transportation because of its positive aspects related to humans and the environment.
Furthermore, active transportation has diversified; in addition to walking and cycling, many trends have emerged for the use of e-bikes and smart bikes, as well as the sharing of bicycles and others.
Recently, specifically during the pandemic, many cities have witnessed a quantitative and qualitative leap in the construction of active transport infrastructure. This leap led to changes related to the transportation system, the reorganization of land uses, and the city's formation. Despite the great efforts to address the positive results of researchers, this topic needs further research and up-to-date findings. Additionally, the results of existing studies devoted to specific regions cannot be generalized to other cities due to differences in urban, climatic, and social environments. Thus it is imperative for studies to look at the characteristics of each region and its methods to implement active transport in it.

Notwithstanding the significant benefits of automated urban transportation systems, the problems associated with such modes have become exhausting for city residents. Many trends have emerged to limit and reduce reliance on automated transportation by moving towards active transportation. Employing active transport in current and future cities presents an opportunity to rid these cities of classic urban transport problems. The process of organizing the urban environment and finding active and innovative means of transportation enhances the role of this mode of mobility, and thus provides a safe and livable urban environment.

The topic of active transport overlaps to encompass many disciplines and research interests. It can be explored from multiple angles, including reducing urban trips and generally improving safety and ease of accessibility. Alternatively, scholars within the field of public health can scrutinize the topic by focusing on the effects of active transport on physical and psychological health. Furthermore, contributions from other disciplines can provide valuable input relating to the method of distributing active transport services, as well as their impact on urban landscape. This Research Topic attempts to identify the developments in the active transport sector worldwide, and illustrate the opportunities and challenges that accompany it. Furthermore, this Topic aims to analyze the effects of this transformation on the structure of the city and its composition.

Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Urban transport policy
- Complete street mechanisms.
- Physical health and transportation
- Modern methods and trends to enhance active transportation systems
- Elements of the active transport system and the surrounding environment
- Traffic priorities for pedestrians and cyclists
- Advanced methods to improve pedestrian safety
- Interchange nodes in the transport network
- Environmentally-friendly means of transportation
- Bike-sharing and smart bikes to stimulate active transportation.
- Micromobility as a new element in the transport system
- Models of active transportation

Prof. PhD. Firas Thamer Hamodi Alrawi is interested in many topics related to urban transportation and mobility, and in particular, sustainable transportation methods.

Keywords: Environmental-Friendly Transportation, Pedestrians, Cyclists, Complete Street Mechanisms, Physical Health and Transportation, Urban Transport, Policy Models of Active Transportation, Micromobility

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