Tomás Ferrão, Serviço de Pediatria, Unidade Local de Saúde da Região de Aveiro (ULSRA), Avenida Artur Ravara, Aveiro, Portugal
Sandra Rebimbas, Serviço de Pediatria, Unidade Local de Saúde da Região de Aveiro (ULSRA), Avenida Artur Ravara, Aveiro, Portugal
Urban environments profoundly shape the health and development of children and adolescents. As pediatricians and key advocates for child health, we must acknowledge car-centric urban design as a major yet underappreciated determinant of pediatric well-being. By 2050, 70% of the children worldwide will live in cities, many of which are designed primarily for car mobility. This paradigm contributes to environmental degradation, increased accidents, and a higher incidence of conditions such as asthma, respiratory infections, and hypertension. Exposure to air pollutants has also been linked to prematurity, impaired neurodevelopment, and allergic diseases. In contrast, active mobility, especially cycling, offers substantial benefits for children’s physical, psychological, and social health, enhancing motor skills, autonomy, and self-esteem, while addressing the global rise in childhood obesity. Despite this, barriers such as unsafe infrastructure and poor urban planning hinder its adoption. Evidence from “bike-friendly” cities demonstrates that investing in active mobility yields health, environmental, and economic gains. Promoting child-centered, sustainable urban design requires coordinated action across individual, social, infrastructural, and public health levels. Pediatricians should leverage their unique position to advocate for policies that prioritize safe, accessible, and active mobility, helping ensure healthier, more sustainable cities for future generations.k
Keywords: Public health. Bicycling. Urban Health. Environment Design. Exercise. Child health.
