Advancing Active Transportation Through Mobility Justice and Centering Community

Objectives: We established a community–academic–policy partnership to examine mobility challenges and opportunities by centering members of a diverse South Seattle neighborhood. Methods: Three participatory research methods were used: (a) 30- to 60-min qualitative interviews with community leaders (...

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Main Authors: Barbara I. Baquero, Rachel Berney, Evalynn Fae T. Romano, Olivia Hicks, Robert Getch, Crystal Hall, Stephen J. Mooney, Dori Rosenberg, K. L. Shannon, Brian E. Saelens, Katherine D. Hoerster
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2024-12-01
Series:Health Equity
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Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/heq.2024.0087
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author Barbara I. Baquero
Rachel Berney
Evalynn Fae T. Romano
Olivia Hicks
Robert Getch
Crystal Hall
Stephen J. Mooney
Dori Rosenberg
K. L. Shannon
Brian E. Saelens
Katherine D. Hoerster
author_facet Barbara I. Baquero
Rachel Berney
Evalynn Fae T. Romano
Olivia Hicks
Robert Getch
Crystal Hall
Stephen J. Mooney
Dori Rosenberg
K. L. Shannon
Brian E. Saelens
Katherine D. Hoerster
author_sort Barbara I. Baquero
collection DOAJ
description Objectives: We established a community–academic–policy partnership to examine mobility challenges and opportunities by centering members of a diverse South Seattle neighborhood. Methods: Three participatory research methods were used: (a) 30- to 60-min qualitative interviews with community leaders (n = 12) and members (n = 16); (b) a photovoice with youth (n = 10); and (c) mobility audits. We also engaged extensively in community dissemination and advocacy. Results: Four major themes emerged: experiences with the built environment; conflicting views on promoting active transportation; experiences of danger, violence, and racism while moving in the community; and pride and connections within the community. Mobility audit findings reinforced many community member messages about needed infrastructure changes. Participants consistently expressed the need for neighborhood and city-wide structural improvements to support transportation and mobility, including enhanced public transportation; better lighting, crosswalks, sidewalks, pavement, and curb cuts; and maintenance of a neighborhood mixed-use trail. Participants shared the importance of community connection while walking, rolling, or using public transit and wanted to maintain this experience. Conclusions: Collectively, findings identified ways to increase nonmotorized transportation and public transit access, safety, and resilience, centering solutions on communities of color. We disseminated and amplified community recommendations to advance mobility justice in South Seattle via a community forum, developing a website, holding meetings with local leaders, and writing through print and electronic media. A key, novel strength of our project was the addition of community organizations, community–academic partners, and government leaders from the project’s inception. Local leaders should engage in mobility justice-focused community engagement to advance equity.
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spelling doaj-art-33e9b645630f4d559f5c9854a5774b6e2025-08-20T02:58:58ZengMary Ann LiebertHealth Equity2473-12422024-12-018172073010.1089/heq.2024.0087Advancing Active Transportation Through Mobility Justice and Centering CommunityBarbara I. Baquero0Rachel Berney1Evalynn Fae T. Romano2Olivia Hicks3Robert Getch4Crystal Hall5Stephen J. Mooney6Dori Rosenberg7K. L. Shannon8Brian E. Saelens9Katherine D. Hoerster10Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.College of Built Environments, Urban Design & Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.Beacon Hill Safe Streets, Seattle, Washington, USA.Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, Seattle, Washington, USA.Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA.Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.Objectives: We established a community–academic–policy partnership to examine mobility challenges and opportunities by centering members of a diverse South Seattle neighborhood. Methods: Three participatory research methods were used: (a) 30- to 60-min qualitative interviews with community leaders (n = 12) and members (n = 16); (b) a photovoice with youth (n = 10); and (c) mobility audits. We also engaged extensively in community dissemination and advocacy. Results: Four major themes emerged: experiences with the built environment; conflicting views on promoting active transportation; experiences of danger, violence, and racism while moving in the community; and pride and connections within the community. Mobility audit findings reinforced many community member messages about needed infrastructure changes. Participants consistently expressed the need for neighborhood and city-wide structural improvements to support transportation and mobility, including enhanced public transportation; better lighting, crosswalks, sidewalks, pavement, and curb cuts; and maintenance of a neighborhood mixed-use trail. Participants shared the importance of community connection while walking, rolling, or using public transit and wanted to maintain this experience. Conclusions: Collectively, findings identified ways to increase nonmotorized transportation and public transit access, safety, and resilience, centering solutions on communities of color. We disseminated and amplified community recommendations to advance mobility justice in South Seattle via a community forum, developing a website, holding meetings with local leaders, and writing through print and electronic media. A key, novel strength of our project was the addition of community organizations, community–academic partners, and government leaders from the project’s inception. Local leaders should engage in mobility justice-focused community engagement to advance equity.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/heq.2024.0087mobilityhealth disparitiesequityactive transportationpublic transportation
spellingShingle Barbara I. Baquero
Rachel Berney
Evalynn Fae T. Romano
Olivia Hicks
Robert Getch
Crystal Hall
Stephen J. Mooney
Dori Rosenberg
K. L. Shannon
Brian E. Saelens
Katherine D. Hoerster
Advancing Active Transportation Through Mobility Justice and Centering Community
Health Equity
mobility
health disparities
equity
active transportation
public transportation
title Advancing Active Transportation Through Mobility Justice and Centering Community
title_full Advancing Active Transportation Through Mobility Justice and Centering Community
title_fullStr Advancing Active Transportation Through Mobility Justice and Centering Community
title_full_unstemmed Advancing Active Transportation Through Mobility Justice and Centering Community
title_short Advancing Active Transportation Through Mobility Justice and Centering Community
title_sort advancing active transportation through mobility justice and centering community
topic mobility
health disparities
equity
active transportation
public transportation
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/heq.2024.0087
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