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17 pages, 2743 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Environmental Performance of Micromobility Using LCA and Self-Reported Modal Change: The Case of Shared E-Bikes, E-Scooters, and E-Mopeds in Barcelona

by Pol Felipe-Falgas, Cristina Madrid-Lopez and Oriol Marquet

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4139; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074139 - 30 Mar 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5948

Abstract

Micromobility is often thought of as a sustainable solution to many urban mobility challenges. The literature to date, however, has struggled to find consensus on the sustainability of shared and electric scooters, e-bikes, and e-mopeds. This paper uses a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) [...] Read more.

Micromobility is often thought of as a sustainable solution to many urban mobility challenges. The literature to date, however, has struggled to find consensus on the sustainability of shared and electric scooters, e-bikes, and e-mopeds. This paper uses a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to calculate the impacts of micromobility modes in three categories: Global Warming Potential (GWP), Particulate Matter Formation, and Ozone Formation. It does so by incorporating the self-reported modal change of each transportation mode: shared e-moped, shared e-bicycle, shared bicycle, and personal e-scooter. The results show that modal change brought by the introduction of shared e-mopeds and shared e-bicycles caused an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while shared bicycles and personal electric scooters decreased GHG emissions. All micromobility modes except personal e-scooters increased particulate matter emissions, but decreased those which were emitted within the city, while they all decreased NOx. The findings of this study suggest new micromobility services are not always the best environmental solution for urban mobility, unless the eco-design of vehicles is improved, and they are strategically used and deployed as part of a holistic vision for transport policy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Insights on Active Travel and Its Relationship with Health and Sustainability)

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15 pages, 3121 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Air Quality and Active Transportation Modes: A Spatiotemporal Concurrence Analysis in Guadalajara, Mexico

by Gabriela Ochoa-Covarrubias, Carlos González-Figueredo, Hugo DeAlba-Martínez and Alejandro L. Grindlay

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13904; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413904 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1883

Abstract

The protection of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation passengers from environmental pollution is a global concern. This study fills the gap in the existing knowledge of temporal exposure to air pollution in Latin American metropolises. The paper proposes a methodology addressing the relationship [...] Read more.

The protection of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transportation passengers from environmental pollution is a global concern. This study fills the gap in the existing knowledge of temporal exposure to air pollution in Latin American metropolises. The paper proposes a methodology addressing the relationship between two objects of study, i.e., the users of active modes of transport and air quality. This new methodology assesses the spatiotemporal concurrence of both objects with statistical analysis of large open-access databases, to promote healthy and sustainable urban mobility. The application of the empirical methodology estimated the number of users of active transportation modes exposed to poor air quality episodes in the Guadalajara metropolitan area (Mexico) in 2019. The study considered two pollutants, ozone (O₃) and particulate matter (PM₁₀), and two active modes, cycling and bus rapid transit (BRT). Spatiotemporal analyses were carried out with geographic information systems, as well as with numeric computing platforms. First, big data were used to count the number of users for each mode within the area of influence of the air quality monitoring stations. Second, the number of air pollution episodes was obtained using the air quality index proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (USA) on an hourly basis. Third, the spatiotemporal concurrence between air quality episodes and active mode users was calculated. In particular, the air quality monitoring data from the Jalisco Atmospheric Monitoring System were compared to users of the public bicycle share system, known as MiBici, and of a bus rapid transit line, known as Mi Macro Calzada. The results showed that the number of cyclists and BRT passengers exposed to poor air quality episodes was considerable in absolute terms, that is, 208,660 users, while it was marginal when compared to the total number of users exposed to better air quality categories in the study area, who represented only 10%. To apply the results at the metropolitan scale, the spatial distribution of the air quality monitoring system should be improved, as well as the availability of data on pedestrians and conventional bus passengers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Insights on Active Travel and Its Relationship with Health and Sustainability)

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15 pages, 1137 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can We Build Walkable Environments to Support Social Capital? Towards a Spatial Understanding of Social Capital; a Scoping Review

by Paloma Morales-Flores and Carlos Marmolejo-Duarte

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13259; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132313259 - 30 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2177

Abstract

Empirical evidence suggests that it is possible to socially renew neighbourhoods through the formation of social capital (SC) as an effect of walking. The characteristics of the built environment that influence walkability and SC have been relatively well established by previous research, but [...] Read more.

Empirical evidence suggests that it is possible to socially renew neighbourhoods through the formation of social capital (SC) as an effect of walking. The characteristics of the built environment that influence walkability and SC have been relatively well established by previous research, but contrasts remain. Therefore, this document seeks to investigate the relationship between SC and walkability, through a Scoping Review of empirical studies published in indexed journals in the Web of Science and Scopus. The findings indicate that the formation of SC as an effect of walking is associated with land use and the design of neighbourhood facilities; the provision of urban furniture (benches) and green spaces; and that the design and configuration of the neighbourhoods affects SC even more than the excess density. In addition, the methodological strategies used to arrive at these results were reviewed. The conclusions suggest the need to study this issue from an updated perspective, where new neighbourhood interaction systems can be tracked (that provide new indicators), using advanced tools and technologies that help streamline and make measurements more objective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Insights on Active Travel and Its Relationship with Health and Sustainability)

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