Course content

The course provides knowledge and skills related to planning for active mobility, with particular emphasis on strategies for cycling and walking. Students learn to analyze and develop measures that promote active mobility at both urban and infrastructure levels. Teaching begins with an introduction to principles, prerequisites, and rationales for cycling and walking strategies. Methods such as GIS analysis, surveys, and site-observation are introduced. These methods are linked to professional themes within active mobility, emphasizing the connection between methodological application, academic reflection, and knowledge development. The course develops methodological competence through practical fieldwork, where students collect simple data to address specific issues related to active mobility. This work provides deeper insight into both theoretical perspectives and practical challenges associated with data collection and analysis. In the final part of the course, the focus is on developing solution proposals based on analyses. Students learn to translate insights from data and analyses into concrete measures and recommendations within an urban planning context. Teaching is supported by examples from cities that have developed principles, plans, and strategies to promote active mobility. Students gain experience in formulating their own recommendations based on data-driven analyses. The emphasis on hands on experiences with inquiry, data-based analysis and proposals should be seen as a preparation for the research which can be part of the study programmes final master thesis. 

Learning outcome

Knowledge 

The candidate has knowledge of

• data sources and methods for analyzing active transport. 

• And understands theories, behavioral and explanatory models used in analyses of active transport in cities.  

• methodological choices and issues related to reliability, validity, and conclusions in analyses of active transport in urban areas at an advanced level

Skills 

The candidate can

• critically assess data sources, tools, and methods, as well as planning frameworks for active mobility in cities

• collect new data or plan the use of existing data to address issues related to active mobility in cities. 

• conduct analyses of new or existing data using relevant tools. 

• communicate problem statements, methodological choices, conclusions, and recommendations for planning active mobility in cities, both in writing and orally. 

General competence 

The candidate applies

• and reflects on theoretical knowledge of active mobility as a basis for methodological choices and conclusions. 

• and uses data and analysis to establish planning frameworks and present solution proposals or hypotheses. 

 The candidate can critically reflect on the use of data and analyses in planning for active mobility. 

Learning methods and activities

The course combines lectures with seminars and field and analytical work in small groups (2-3 persons). Group work constitutes a significant part of the course. Each group analyzes a selected area or issue for a larger area based on existing or newly collected data from observation, registration, interviews, etc. Data are processed, and findings are reported as a basis for planning active mobility and recommending possible solutions or measures. 

The course requires active participation in seminars, exercises, group work and presentations.

This course is offered to incoming exchange students and will be taught in English if necessary

Compulsory assignments

• Mandatory attendance

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

BYP4202 Sustainable Urban Mobility, BYP4104 Methods for Planning

Required previous knowledge

Bachelor's degree (180 ECTC) or equivalent with a specialization of at least 80 ECTS credits in planning-related subject areas.

Course materials

Course compendium 

Credit reductions