Juliana DeCastro
She is a biologist by training and a researcher by nature. She possesses an MBA in Environmental Planning and Management from Veiga de Almeida University (2010) and a Master’s degree in Transportation Engineering from COPPE/UFRJ (2014). Currently, she is pursuing a doctoral degree in the Postgraduate Program in Exercise and Sport at UERJ, where she is actively engaged with the Active Life Laboratory (LaVA) and the Institute of Strategic Planning for Transportation and Tourism (Planett).
Additionally, she collaborates with various organizations in the fields of urban mobility and tourism, including Instituto Aromeiazero and Transportation Active, as well as Open Knowledge Brazil, which promotes open knowledge initiatives. Her work emphasizes the dissemination of knowledge and the transfer of technology between academic institutions, businesses, governmental entities, and civil society.
She advocates for the importance of ecological literacy, digital literacy, and network-building as essential components for enhancing citizen education and advancing the sustainable development of urban areas, with a particular focus on promoting access, inclusion, and climate justice.
Sessions
The rapid expansion of Bike Sharing Systems (BSS) in urban centers presents an opportunity to assess their potential contributions to health, sustainable mobility, and urban safety. This research examines the relationship between the built environment, road safety, and physical activity levels of BSS users in six Brazilian capitals (Brasília, Recife, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and São Paulo). Using a mixed-method approach, we analyze data from BSS operators, public health databases (DATASUS, Vigitel), and geospatial datasets to explore patterns of usage across different user profiles (gender, age, purpose of trips) and their implications for active mobility. The study applies Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) to segment user profiles and the Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) to estimate avoided premature deaths and associated economic benefits. The findings contribute to the discussion on Health in All Policies (HiAP), emphasizing the need for evidence-based planning in mobility policies. This research strengthens the dialogue between public health and urban mobility sectors, highlighting the importance of integrating road safety improvements and equitable access to BSS to maximize their health benefits and sustainability outcomes.
The Brazilian Cyclist Profile Research, organized by Transporte Ativo with technical collaboration from the Observatório das Metrópoles and sponsored by Itaú Unibanco, represents a pioneering effort in creating a longitudinal cycling mobility census in Brazil. Conducted every three years, the 2024 edition mobilized over 250 researchers across 18 cities, resulting in 11,956 interviews. This collaborative initiative provides low-cost, high-impact data to address the persistent lack of cycling mobility data in Brazil and other Global South contexts.
Despite municipal authorities frequently citing the absence of reliable cycling data, this study unveils crucial insights into barriers, motivations, and opportunities for cycling adoption. Key findings include:
51% of cyclists ride to save money, underscoring cycling’s economic role.
46% of female cyclists cite safety concerns as their main barrier.
58% of cyclists ride daily, proving its significance as a transport mode.
31% of respondents increased their cycling frequency in the past year, signaling a growing trend.
The study moves beyond traditional transport surveys by integrating social, cultural, and economic dimensions of cycling behavior. The findings inform evidence-based policymaking, shaping cycling infrastructure investments, safety policies, and public awareness campaigns. Additionally, the open-access methodology enables replication across different urban contexts, fostering regional and international knowledge exchange.
This workshop will explore the research methodology, present findings, and discuss how citizen-generated data can drive policy transformation. Through interactive exercises and case studies, participants will collaborate on strategies to apply similar research methodologies in their own cities.