ACTIVATE - Activating Children’s and Youth’s Active Travel in 15-minute Cities

Children’s active mobility, including walking, cycling, and scootering, has declined significantly in recent decades, raising concerns about long-term public health and environmental impacts. This trend challenges the 15-minute city concept, which seeks to promote sustainable travel by placing essential services within walking or cycling distance. Despite efforts to encourage active mobility, it remains unclear why many children do not adopt these habits, even in mobility-friendly areas. The ACTIVATE project aims to address this gap by examining factors that influence children’s travel behavior, such as the built environment, social networks, and attitudes. ACTIVATE focuses on several key areas: (1) Geographic differences and mobility poverty, investigating how access and perceptions impact active travel across regions, particularly in deprived areas. (2) The influence of peers and parents on children’s travel decisions. (3) Shifts in attitudes toward mobility during key developmental stages. (4) Variations in travel patterns across different age groups. ACTIVATE will collaborate with stakeholders, including urban planners and educators, to co-create guidelines that promote a cohesive, user-friendly mobility network. The project’s ultimate goal is to encourage sustainable, active mobility as the foundation of future urban transportation systems.