Take the Time to Smell the Roses

We are delighted to share a new programmatic registered report by two former SAVI doctoral interns, Dr Layan Fessler (University of Lille) and Dr Ségolène Guérin (University of the Littoral Opal Cost), exploring how the design of urban environments can promote active transport (walking and cycling), a key consideration in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing public health.
Drawing on the ‘Affect and Health Behaviour Framework’ and the 'Theory of Effort Minimisation in Physical Activity’, this project investigates whether separating motorised traffic and integrating nature into urban environments enhances affective experience during active travel. Two laboratory studies using immersive virtual environments and a within-subjects crossover design will assess affective valence, remembered pleasure and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex oxygenation by means of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
The findings will shed light on the cognitive and affective mechanisms that underlie mode of transport choices, and pave the way for future randomised controlled trials (RCTs), examining how urban planning can support the transition towards more active transport. The conception phase of this body of work was supervised by our esteemed collaborator, Professor Yvonne N. Delevoye-Turrell† (1972–2025) of the University of Lille, France, and so realisation of the project will form part of her considerable academic legacy.
Many congratulations to our former doctoral interns, Layan and Ségolène, on this important collaboration, and we look forward to seeing the fruits of their labour!















