How to build a healthy city
Peter Muennig, MD MPH
Mailman School of Public Health
Percentage of trips in Urban areas made by walking and bicycling in the
United States and Germany, by age group
Puchner J, Dijkstra L. Naturally occuring retirement community-supportive service programs: An example of devolution. Am J Public
Health. 2003; 93: 1509-1516.
Oakland CA
Acknowledgements to Urban Advantage
Design Elements
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Most daily activities done locally
Greenspace nearby for walks, children, pets.
Nearby transit for work/longer trips
Low-rise walk ups
– Disability access
– Amenities like leaded double windows
Walnut Creek, CA Before
Walnut Creek, CA After
Arlington, Virginia
Arlington, Virginia
Strip redeveloped as an urban transit corridor
Goals
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Less noise
Improved aesthetics
Less air pollution/C02
Incorporate exercise into daily activities
Reduce transit time
Reduce emergency responder time
Reduce accidents
What This Looks Like Globally
Bus Rapid Transit
Bogota
Mission Control
Rio
Zero Road Space Bus
Chinese Concept
Hanwang Forum
Health
Education
Aesthetics
Drainage
Reflective area
Civil Society
Disaster Preparedness
Zero energy buildings
Business
Environment
Take Away
• 1. Urban design has huge implications for
worker productivity
– Exercise = Healthier workforce
– Fewer trips = more rested workforce
– Improved aesthetics = happier workforce
– Less noise = more rested
Take Away
Must think outside of the corporate wellness
box:
Wellness should happen inside and outside the
workplace
Take Away
• Even small productivity gains can pay for a
multibillion dollar investment in an urban area
Take Away
• Many additional benefits
• For instance, traffic congestion
– Increases all transaction costs
• Time in transit for products
• Tickets