Mapping and analysis of laws influencing built environments for walking and cycling in Australia

Abstract

Background Physical inactivity is a significant public health concern, with limited signs of improvement despite a global commitment to achieving the World Health Organization’s target of 15% reduction by 2030. A systems approach is required to tackle this issue, involving the creation of environments that are conducive to physical activity. Laws represent an important tool for regulating the built environment for physical activity, are a mechanism for systems change, and have the capacity to reorient the goals and rules of a system. However, they are understudied and potentially underutilised for physical activity. Scientific legal mapping is a first step towards understanding how laws could impact the built environment to facilitate greater population physical activity. Method We conducted a legal assessment of state and territory laws in Australia, to systematically characterise how they address built environment considerations with specific relevance to walking and cycling. An interdisciplinary team of researchers with public health, law and urban planning expertise was formed to complete the multistage process. Key steps included a systematic search of laws using a combination of original legal research, consultation of secondary sources, and review and verification by an urban planning expert; development of a coding scheme; and completion of coding and quality control procedures. Results Most jurisdictions in Australia do not currently embed objectives in primary legislation that would promote physical activity and support an integrated approach to land use and transport planning that encourages active and sustainable lifestyles. Only two jurisdictions addressed the large majority of evidence-based standards that promote active living. Of the standards addressed in law, few fully met evidence-based recommendations. While most jurisdictions legislated responsibility for enforcement of planning law, few legislated obligations for monitoring implementation. Conclusion Increasing physical activity is a systems issue, requiring actions across multiple sectors. An in-depth examination of the legal environment is an important step towards understanding and influencing the existing physical activity system, why it may not be generating desired outcomes, and potential opportunities for improvement. Our findings reveal opportunities where laws could be strengthened to promote more active environments. Updating this dataset periodically will generate longitudinal data that could be used to evaluate the impact of these laws on the built environment and physical activity behaviours.

‘It's About Collaboration’: A Whole-Systems Approach to Understanding and Promoting Movement in Suffolk

“…Previous research seeking to encourage movement through a systems-approach found similar leverage points (42,51). For example, systems representing recreational participation have likewise found the importance of goals (e.g., serving the needs of young people) and varying forms of structural change (e.g., urban design, safety, policy change to support movement, laws, regulation) (42,(51)(52)(53). These studies also underscore the importance of feedback loops and delays (e.g., appeal of facilities growing as more people use them) (42,(51)(52)(53), points in which the systems-consortium also recognised and discussed in regard to implementing a shared strategy.…”

“…For example, systems representing recreational participation have likewise found the importance of goals (e.g., serving the needs of young people) and varying forms of structural change (e.g., urban design, safety, policy change to support movement, laws, regulation) (42,(51)(52)(53). These studies also underscore the importance of feedback loops and delays (e.g., appeal of facilities growing as more people use them) (42,(51)(52)(53), points in which the systems-consortium also recognised and discussed in regard to implementing a shared strategy. More speci cally, consistent with research, it was recognised that it would take time to build consensus and an develop an effective whole-systems approach (17,25,54,55), but a shared vision would bring in new partners, grow the system, and therefore the extent to which change could be brought about.…”