From 16 to 22 September, Europe celebrates the European Mobility Week, an initiative led by the European Commission that invites cities to rethink how we move and to discover healthier, more sustainable alternatives to private cars. Each year, hundreds of municipalities organize activities to promote walking, cycling, and public transport. Pilot actions such as temporary street closures or pop-up cycle lanes allow citizens to experience a different way of living the city.
This week is not only about mobility: it is an opportunity to talk about health. Urban space and the way it is designed have a direct impact on quality of life. The air we breathe, the safety of our streets, or the opportunities for physical activity all depend on how transport and the city are planned. When cars dominate, pollution and noise increase, opportunities for walking and play decrease, and inequalities between neighborhoods deepen. In contrast, when active mobility and green spaces are prioritized, both physical and mental wellbeing improve, and the city becomes safer and more cohesive.
It is in this context that the Joint Action on Cancer and other NCDs prevention – action on health determinants (JA PreventNCD) was created, co-funded by the EU4Health programme. More than 100 organizations from 25 countries are working together with a common goal: to prevent non-communicable diseases —such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, or diabetes— and to reduce health inequalities. One of the most relevant lines of work focuses on healthy urban environments, exploring how mobility and urban planning policies can help reduce risk factors while at the same time making cities more liveable.
A concrete example of this approach is the transformation of spaces around schools. Several European cities are promoting so-called school streets: areas where motorized traffic is restricted or eliminated, at least during drop-off and pick-up times. These measures bring multiple benefits: they improve the air children breathe, reduce the risk of accidents, encourage families to walk or cycle, and turn the school environment into a calmer and safer place. They also open up opportunities for community use, such as educational or recreational activities in the street.
JA PreventNCD is studying how these initiatives are being put into practice: which political and social factors make them possible, which obstacles appear, and what results they produce for health and wellbeing. The aim is to learn from experience and to provide useful recommendations for other municipalities, both in the Valencian region and across Europe.
In this sense, the European Mobility Week is a perfect framework to show how local actions can contribute to broader goals. The pilot projects and car-free streets that take place during these days prove that it is possible to imagine and build cities differently. What begins as a public awareness activity can end up becoming a permanent policy with great impact on public health.
Cities are home to more than 70% of Europe’s population, and this proportion continues to grow. Deciding what kind of cities we want is also deciding how we want to live. Choosing active mobility, cleaner air, and safe, green spaces means choosing a future with less disease and greater equity.
The European Mobility Week reminds us that every step counts. Through JA PreventNCD, we work to ensure that these transformations are not isolated exceptions, but part of a coherent strategy to build healthier and more resilient cities. Cities where everyday journeys become a source of wellbeing rather than risk. Cities that put people at the centre, and make the right to health a shared reality.
Author: Alejandro Parra
Alejandro works at Fisabio in Valencia, Spain and is a member of the team that focuses on Healthy Living Environments (WP6) in JA PreventNCD. He leads the pilot on the mapping of the current interventions on car-free areas in the cities and/or around schools and other child settings, as well as school playgrounds redevelopments.