Mobilitown

Come and learn about public health, mobility and urbanism in a fun way!

Changes in the way of commuting generate public health benefits, mainly due to the increase in physical activity levels and, consequently, the reduction of diseases linked to inactivity. Active commuters have shown a high level of satisfaction, less stress, and a greater sense of relaxation and freedom.

In Mobilitown, there is a whole content related to public health, mobility and urbanism that is not always, for aesthetic reasons, presented clearly during the matches, but which are extremely important for the citizen. Thinking about it, some points were separated that served as a guide for the development of the game.

Health in urban environments suffers from several threats: pollution, stress, social and economic vulnerability, security... In addition, living in cities increases the probability of the emergence of various diseases. On the other hand, it was found that improvements in urban design and space usability add well-being to people's lives, and interventions in this area should be thought of as tools for improving public health. Specifically with regard to mobility, citizens who manage to fit active transport (bicycles, walks) into their routine show not only an improved quality of life, but also a reduced risk of chronic diseases.

According to the WHO, the means of transport is considered one of the social determinants of health, therefore, its choice affects the well-being of the individual. A healthy alternative to the car is active transport, which includes walking and non-motorized transport. The more an environment is safe and pleasant to walk around, the more citizens choose to use this type of transport. That is: walking does not depend only on the citizen's choice, but is influenced by the layout of the urban environment. In this way, the architecture of a city influences the individual's choices.

In order for people to opt for active transport, urban planners have the challenge of creating alternatives that are safe, comfortable, accessible, cheap and integrated into the public transport system. Activity levels are determined by the combination of these alternatives, with emphasis on the density of residences and the existence of cycle paths, parks and sidewalks.

Following this healthy line of thought, Mobilitown uses the active and spatial language of games to achieve three goals:

- Make individuals aware of the benefits that physical activity brings to physical and mental well-being;

- Stimulate the individual to rethink their travel choices in the city;

- Stress the urgency of a policy that values ​​the urban environment as an important agent for public health;