With ever more people living in cities worldwide, it becomes increasingly important to understand the positive and negative impacts of the urban habitat on livability, health behaviors and health outcomes. However, implementing interventions that tackle the exposome in complex urban systems can be costly and have long-term, sometimes unforeseen and indirect, impacts. Hence, it is crucial to not only assess the health impact of interventions, but also its cost-effectiveness and the social distributional impacts of possible urban exposome interventions before implementing them. Spatial agent-based modeling can capture complex behavior-environment interactions, exposure dynamics, and social outcomes in a spatial context. We present our agent-based model of transport interventions in Amsterdam. Our approach entails the integration of a behavioral model of people’s mobility choices and dynamic physical models of environmental stressors (so far NO2). Together these sub-models result in an exposure interaction that approximates personal behavioral and environmental exposure for different population groups within an urban environment, e.g. based on demographics, the neighbourhoods they live in or on their social economic circumstances. We use our ABM to capture and compare the exposure and health impacts of multiple hypothetical transport intervention scenarios, such as pedestrian infrastructure improvements, speed limits and the 15min city. We find among other things that in Amsterdam the elasticity of mode of transport choice is larger in the afternoon hours, that low income groups benefit more from pedestrian infrastructure and that additional pedestrian infrastructure has a larger benefit compared to biking infrastructure. We present our model architecture, the strength and limitations of the method, and our preliminary findings on effects of transport interventions.

The scarcity or lack of access to essential services at the local and neighbourhood levels in cities can result in significant spatial inequalities, as some areas and their residents can deal with disadvantages and a lower quality of daily life. In particular, the spatial distribution and the variety of amenities at the local scale represent an important feature of the liveliness of places. The local availability and access to essential services are particularly relevant for some demographic groups experiencing limited mobility or mobility poverty, such as older adults living in cities, and spatial disparities have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted severe difficulties in accessing essential services. This work explores the issue focusing on the following question: who can access what depending on where they live in cities? Using Machine Learning and Spatial Autocorrelation applied to different data sources for spatial information on the location of urban amenities and Internet access, this work aims to identify the most underserved places in terms of the variety of available amenities and access to quality broadband in three European capital cities: Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris. A comparison to urban areas where high percentages of older adults reside makes it possible to identify where residents can locally access several essential services (green spaces, health care, local shopping) and where this need cannot be satisfied because of a lack in the amenity variety available at walking distance to their home. The combination of underserved areas with a high concentration of senior residents identifies left-behind areas in these cities, where interventions on inequalities are most needed. Results can inform policies aiming at favouring fair access to services at the local scale, possibly including slow and active mobility modes, and in general to develop comprehensive and sustainable planning strategies for cities, leaving no place and no person behind.

Bicycle parking is a crucial component of cycling infrastructure that is often overlooked in cycling literature. However, it plays a vital role in promoting cycling-friendly cities. The potential reduction of carbon emissions in the transportation sector through a shift to cycling is well recognized. Modal transitions from high-carbon transportation modes to low-carbon alternatives offer significant opportunities for reducing carbon emissions. This study delves into the potential impact of secure bicycle parking on travel modal change. It focuses on key objectives: investigating the relationship between secure parking and increased bike usage, assessing willingness to pay based on costs and quantifying carbon savings resulting from travel behavior change. The research adopts a multi-faceted approach, incorporating qualitative and quantitative analyses. By exploring literature on cycling infrastructure, carbon emissions, and the role of parking in travel behaviour, the study centers on Concordia University campus parking in downtown Montreal, Canada. Findings indicate that secure bicycle parking significantly influences bike usage, with individuals more inclined to cycle when provided with convenient, safe, and affordable parking options. The research examined Montreal cyclists' preferences, their preferred characteristics, and their willingness to pay for enhanced services regarding these facilities. The evidence underscores the substantial impact of improved bicycle parking facilities on increasing cycling levels and promoting shifts from high-carbon to low-carbon transportation modes. The study highlights the financial advantages of converting car parking spaces to bike parking areas. It also demonstrates the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of investing in bicycle parking infrastructure. Prioritizing the development of better bicycle parking facilities integrated into transportation infrastructure is crucial for creating a greener and more sustainable environment. In conclusion, encouraging cycling through enhanced parking options holds the potential for substantial environmental, health, and economic benefits for individuals and society. The study provides insights into the relationship between secure bicycle parking and travel modal change and advocates for ongoing efforts to refine and expand bicycle parking solutions. Ultimately, by understanding and prioritizing cyclists' needs, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and cyclist-friendly urban landscape.