Journal of Transport & Health最新文献

{"title":"Severity of bicycle non-vehicle crashes in Hong Kong: A comparative study of non-collision and collision injuries","authors":"Cheng Zhang ,&nbsp;S. Thomas Ng ,&nbsp;Jun Xu ,&nbsp;Kenneth KH. Wong ,&nbsp;Bo Du ,&nbsp;Jun Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102124","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102124","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>With limited road space and a highly developed public transport system, Hong Kong has low bicycle usage and bicycles are primarily regarded as recreational tools. Consequently, cyclist safety concerns and road crashes have received relatively little attention.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>To address this gap, this study conducts a comparative analysis of non-collision and collision injury severity in bicycle non-vehicle (BNV) crashes, using a total of 17,490 cyclist injury records in Hong Kong (2014–2023). Random parameters logit models are employed to evaluate the impact of key factors on BNV crash outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The findings demonstrate a downward trend in both non-collision and collision injury severity over the ten-year period. Factors significantly associated with more severe non-collision injuries include: cyclists aged 55 or above, maneuver of making turn, bicycles aged 5 years or less, road segments, Hong Kong Island, autumn season, dark conditions, and two-way roads and dual or more carriageways. For collision injuries, key risk factors include: cyclists aged 35 or above, male cyclists, collision with objects, maneuver of overtaking, bicycles aged 5 years or less, hit-and-run behaviors, road segments, during midnight to dawn, wet road surfaces, and dual or more carriageways.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The study underscores the need for dedicated cycle tracks and shared road designs to mitigate cyclist safety risks. These findings provide evidence-based recommendations for infrastructure improvements and policy interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47838,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transport & Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 102124"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144548906","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How learning to cycle influences lifestyle: An eight country pooled analysis and person-centered approach","authors":"Isaac Estevan ,&nbsp;An De Meester ,&nbsp;Sanne L.C. Veldman ,&nbsp;Cristiana Mercê ,&nbsp;Marco Branco ,&nbsp;Frederico Lopes ,&nbsp;David Catela ,&nbsp;Elina Hasanen ,&nbsp;Arto Laukkanen ,&nbsp;Patrizia Tortella ,&nbsp;Cristina Sá ,&nbsp;Boris Jidovtseff ,&nbsp;Ricardo Fujikawa ,&nbsp;Xavier García-Massó ,&nbsp;Rita Cordovil","doi":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102114","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102114","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Cycling plays a key role in the promotion of individual, community, and planetary health. However, no previous study has explored the interplay between the process of learning to cycle and cycling habits, adopting a person-centered approach. To understand which variables promote the learning process (i.e., acquisition) and lifelong bicycle use on a daily and recreational basis (i.e., engagement), the aim of this study was to identify different clusters of individuals with similar characteristics related to their cycling acquisition and engagement.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-country pooled sample of 8542 individuals aged 28.9 ± 14.4 years (58.5 % female) was assessed via online questionnaire. A Self-Organizing Map (SOM) was used to classify and visualize the values of individuals in the variables tested.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A K-means cluster analysis resulted in seven profiles. Participants in profiles characterized by a relatively old age to learn to cycle (i.e., 7-8 years-old; n &gt; 1500 mainly from Mexico and the United Kingdom) typically learned to cycle on a conventional bicycle, were taught by their father, mother, or both, and mainly cycle for leisure. Participants in profiles characterized by a relatively young age to learn to cycle (i.e., 5 years old; n &gt; 1500 mainly from Belgium and Finland) typically learned to cycle by using a wide variety of bicycles (i.e., balance-bicycle, two-training wheels, one-training wheel and conventional bicycle) and without guidance from a specific significant other.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The identified clusters highlight the diversity of cycling engagement across different demographics and geographic locations. The results provide valuable insights to plan and guide targeted policies and interventions to promote cycling as a mode of transportation and recreational activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47838,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transport & Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 102114"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144535735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mitigating airborne pathogen risk in future shared autonomous vehicles","authors":"Jianing Bao ,&nbsp;Jeremy A. Lopez ,&nbsp;Kathryn Baringer ,&nbsp;Andrew R. Metcalf ,&nbsp;Nigel B. Kaye ,&nbsp;Dustin J. Souders","doi":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified cleanliness concerns in shared transportation modes, particularly among older adults who are more vulnerable to airborne pathogens. This study explores demographic-related preferences for non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) to mitigate pathogen transmission.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An online survey was conducted with 438 U.S. participants stratified into younger (18–29), middle-aged (30–64), and older adults (65+). Participants ranked five NPIs—air filters, antimicrobial surfaces, extreme heat, physical barriers, and ultraviolet (UV) light sanitization—based on their comfort and confidence in using SAVs during and after the pandemic.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Results indicate that while all age groups favored air filters, antimicrobial surfaces, and physical barriers, adults aged 69 and older showed a significantly higher preference for UV light sanitization compared to younger cohorts. Extreme heat sanitization was least preferred across all ages.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings suggest that tailored communication and adoption of effective NPIs can improve older adults’ confidence in future SAVs, addressing barriers to mobility and public health concerns. These insights can be used by conventional ridesharing providers in the present as well as the SAV developers of the future and policymakers to implement strategies that ensure safe, inclusive, and sustainable transportation solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47838,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transport & Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 102116"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144523354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Walkability in planned urban environments: Evaluating policy and planning gaps – A case study of Chandigarh","authors":"Tara Singla,&nbsp;Tej Karki","doi":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102117","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102117","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Walking is one of the easiest ways to promote better health, sustainability, and safe city environments. Le Corbusier conceived Chandigarh as a “model city,” emphasizing greens, neighborhood planning, functional zoning, and traffic separation. This initially created an equitable, walkable environment in the city. However, today, this “ideal” planned city is car-dominated, making pedestrian movement challenging and unsafe along its roads. This study explores why Chandigarh suffers from poor walkability.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Nine sectors, including Sector 17 (the Central Business District), are chosen as the study area. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, using a photographic survey to document pedestrian infrastructure and surveying 209 regular walkers to identify key challenges. The findings prioritize issues, while a policy review assesses their alignment with Chandigarh's planning framework.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study identifies significant obstacles to walkability, such as obstructed zebra crossings, street harassment, poorly maintained sidewalks (footpath), single-use zoning with scattered services, fear of crime, and limited crossing time intervals, as well as discontinuous and obstructed sidewalks (footpaths) with poorly marked zebra crossings.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Despite its original vision of a “model” city, Chandigarh has transformed into a car-centric environment that discourages walking. This case study highlights the gap between planning ideals and urban realities, demonstrating how even a purpose-built planned city can fail to meet its fundamental goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47838,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transport & Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 102117"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144523352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Promising results from the short-term evaluation of the RideScore Active Schools program, in Queensland, Australia","authors":"Margaret Cargo ,&nbsp;Laura Alston ,&nbsp;Mark Daniel ,&nbsp;Marley J. Binder ,&nbsp;Nikita Wheaton ,&nbsp;Neil T. Coffee","doi":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102109","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102109","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Australian children are not meeting recommended daily physical activity and active school travel targets. To increase active wheeled travel to school, the RideScore Active Schools program used gamification to motivate children's participation and smart app technology to provide parents reassurance of children's arrival to and departure from school. Program reach and RideScore's short-term impact on children's active travel from preparatory year to grade six were evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A quasi-experimental design was utilised with eight school sites allocated to the intervention condition and four schools to the comparison condition, in Queensland, Australia. Bicycle and scooter counts were completed at baseline (T1) and four-months later (T2). The school was the unit of observation and analysis. Program reach and children's participation were assessed through registrations, trip numbers, riding frequency, and distance travelled. Data were analysed using regression analysis with heteroskedasticity-consistent standard errors.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>From baseline, total bike count increased 38.0 % in intervention schools and decreased 4.3 % in comparison schools. Adjusting for school enrolment, between T1 and T2, intervention relative to comparison schools recorded an average daily increase of 33.6 bikes (p = 0.03), corresponding to an average percentage increase of 55.2 % (p = 0.01). The effect size was moderate (Hedge's <em>g</em> = 0.78). Children travelled a total distance of 88,004 km, corresponding to 12.8 tonnes of CO₂ saved. Conditional on assumed travel speeds of 14 km/h and 10 km/hr, commuting contributed 6.5–9.1 min per day to children's physical activity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>RideScore increased active wheeled travel and contributed to primary school children's recommended daily physical activity targets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47838,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transport & Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 102109"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144523353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk perception, protective behavior, and transit ridership during COVID-19: Longitudinal insights from Seoul Metropolitan Area, Republic of Korea","authors":"Seunghoo Jeong ,&nbsp;Minjun Kim ,&nbsp;Min-Kyu Kim ,&nbsp;Ji-Bum Chung","doi":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102108","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102108","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The COVID-19 pandemic heightened individuals’ risk perception and increased their protective behaviors to minimize unnecessary contact with others. While existing studies have explored behavioral changes in response to the pandemic, few have examined the dynamic interplay between risk perception, protective behaviors, and contextual factors, largely due to the limitations of short-term or cross-sectional data.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study used 80 repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted throughout the pandemic to track the risk perception and protective behavior of Koreans. We adopted a one-way ANOVA model and a conceptual SEM to examine the differences in risk perception and protective behavior across various socio-demographic groups. The variables considered were individuals’ risk perception, protective behaviors, and the external environment such as the number of confirmed cases and government quarantine measures for exploring their associations with public transit usage.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results indicate that individuals' risk perception is significantly influenced by their surrounding environment. Individuals with heightened risk perception are likely to adopt preventive measures, which in turn impact their public transit ridership. We also provide compelling evidence on how risk perception and protective behavior related to COVID-19 evolved over time, influenced not only by public health policies but also by individuals’ socio-demographic characteristics. Last, this study empirically demonstrates the occurrence of <em>psychic numbing</em> resulting from repeated exposure to a persistent threat.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings underscore the importance of adaptive public health strategies and targeted communication to address the varying perceptions across different socio-demographic groups, contributing to a more resilient public transit system. This study highlights the importance of adaptive transit operations, sustained safety measures, and continuous public engagement during future pandemics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47838,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transport & Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 102108"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144364712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influences of built environment on the use of urban greenways: A case of Qinghe greenway, Beijing","authors":"Shuwen Zheng,&nbsp;Yulin Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Due to the significant health and social benefits of greenways, developing effective planning and design strategies to promote greenway use is an important concern in urban research and practice. Most previous studies have examined greenways from various regions or cities, which might face challenges in controlling for surrounding regional factors. Furthermore, the refined design factors rather than overall features of built environment along urban greenways have been rarely studied.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study selected the case of the Qinghe greenway in Beijing, which is an ideal case for controlling regional factors due to its notable segmental differences within one single greenway. We collected 264 valid questionnaires from greenway users, and performed regression models to investigate the influences of personal factors, greenway design factors, and road access factors on three independent variables: the total weekly duration of greenway use, the frequency of greenway visits, and the average duration per visit.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results revealed that users who travel longer distances to the greenway tend to spend more time on the greenway. The length and width of the greenway, and the presence of natural riverbank are significantly associated with greenway use. Users who access the greenway via arterial roads, living streets, and lanes spend less time on the greenway than those who use internal road access.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>To improve the greenway use, more attention should be paid to building continuous, wide and natural greenway sections. Additionally, opening up more internal roads that directly connect to greenways in nearby communities could also help increase greenway use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47838,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transport & Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 102110"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Travel, physical activity, perceived accessibility and mental health during Crisis: Insights from the COVID-19 pandemic","authors":"Lars Böcker ,&nbsp;Lars E. Olsson ,&nbsp;Margareta Friman ,&nbsp;Sindre Johan Cottis Hoff","doi":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The pandemic disrupted daily lives and negatively affected psychological factors such as perceived security, social relations, distancing, stress, and engagement. Yet, empirical insights are still largely lacking of the complex evolving interplay of changing everyday mobilities and physical activities, accessibility perceptions, and mental health outcomes during and after the pandemic. This study explores how travel, physical activity and perceived accessibility affect mental health during the COVID-19 crisis.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Drawing on 2020, 2021 and 2022 panel survey data from residents of Greater Oslo, Norway, we (i) develop a theoretical framework on the interplay between travel and behaviour, perceived accessibility and mental health, (ii) we set up measurement instruments to capture key outcomes (Perceived Accessibility Scale, and Mental Health Index), and (iii) test the interplay using panel survey data from before, during, and immediately after the pandemic analysed in Structural Equation Models.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Substantial negative pandemic impacts on trip frequencies, public transport shares and accessibility perceptions are observed, the latter with important mediating effects on mental health. Physical activity levels and mental health were initially also negatively affected, but less so than travel and perceived accessibility and they also rebounded back to normal during the study period. Pandemic impacts on travel, perceived accessibility and mental health turned out to be uneven, with for instance stronger impacts for women than for men.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings highlight the central role of perceived accessibility as a mediating factor between travel behaviour and mental health, underscoring its importance in transport policy and planning. The unequal impacts of the pandemic across socio-demographic groups, especially for women, demonstrate the need for more inclusive and resilient mobility systems. Moreover, the study illustrates the value of using subjective, longitudinal measures to understand how mobility and well-being are interlinked over time, particularly in response to societal disruptions like the pandemic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47838,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transport & Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 102115"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144364623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating pollution: The impact of transportation modes on air and noise quality in Chattogram City, Bangladesh","authors":"Md. Mehedi Hasan Masum ,&nbsp;Md. Bashirul Islam ,&nbsp;Md. Arif Hossen ,&nbsp;Hrithik Nath ,&nbsp;Asiful Hoque","doi":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>In-vehicle air and noise pollution pose a significant environmental challenge, particularly affecting daily commuters. This study evaluates real-time exposure to traffic-related air pollutants across different transport modes in Chattogram City, considering environmental parameters and noise levels to understand the in-vehicle environment.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of eight traffic routes and eight transportation modes-three with open environments (rickshaw, motorcycle, and boat) and five with confined environments (train, car, CNG, minibus, and bus) were studied both during day and evening hours. Six air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, CO, CO₂, TVOC, and HCHO) and two environmental parameters (temperature and humidity) inside the vehicles alongside noise levels were measured.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The findings revealed that air pollution was more severe in the evening, with open-environment vehicles exhibiting higher particulate matter levels compared to confined ones. The mean concentrations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were found to exceed allowable limits in several modes, particularly the maximum in rickshaws and minibuses. The CO levels surpassed the Bangladesh standard limit across all modes, while CO₂ remained within an acceptable range but varied significantly based on transport modes. In contrast, TVOC levels were erratic, often exceeding permissible limits, whereas HCHO levels were within acceptable limits. Noise levels also exceeded allowable limits in all modes except waterways. Daytime humidity was high, while the temperature remained normal. The study reveals a significant correlation between particulate matter, gaseous pollutants, and climate factors. Major pollution sources were supposed to be due to pollution from construction sites, vehicle emissions, and industrial activities.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>These findings underscore the urgent need for effective vehicular pollution management strategies in Chattogram City to mitigate health risks associated with air and noise pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47838,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transport & Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 102112"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144314228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Missing the bus: Impacts of loss of bus services on the wellbeing of older adults","authors":"Luke Robertshaw ,&nbsp;Barbara Hanratty ,&nbsp;Charles Musselwhite ,&nbsp;Jennifer Liddle","doi":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102104","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jth.2025.102104","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>For many people, buses play a crucial role in connecting them with friends and family, and to opportunities such as employment, education, retail, leisure, and healthcare.</div><div>During autumn 2023 sections of the North East region of England endured seven weeks without usual bus services due to industrial action. This study explores the impact of the loss of bus services on older adults living in the borough of Gateshead.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Qualitative interviews with 15 older adults (aged 50–82 years) living in Gateshead explored their experiences of loss of bus services. Analysis of interview transcripts used an inductive approach to develop themes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Four main themes were identified: a shrinking world, striking at the heart of life, an unequal impact, and buses as a lifeline. The loss of bus services meant people could not reach their usual range of destinations, travelled less often, and felt a sense of entrapment in their homes. They missed healthcare appointments, social interactions, and were restricted to more localised services. People experienced a loss of freedom, independence, and control over their lives. The impacts fell disproportionately on people with existing social or economic disadvantages.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Older people described harmful consequences for their physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Impacts were unequally distributed and exacerbated underlying inequalities. Buses play a vital role in supporting health and wellbeing, enabling independence, and addressing inequalities. This research adds evidence for transport policymakers to support the social wellbeing case for improving public transport.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47838,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Transport & Health","volume":"44 ","pages":"Article 102104"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144306825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}