Promoting active transport in rural communities through infrastructural modifications: the PABEM needs assessment tool.

This article focuses on the development and initial application of the Participative Assessment for Built Environment Modifications (PABEM), a needs assessment tool designed to engage citizens and community decision-makers in rural areas to identify necessary changes that promote active transport such as walking and cycling. Developed through a transdisciplinary, seven-step participative process, PABEM was piloted in three rural Austrian towns, revealing key modification needs including revitalizing walking and cycling infrastructure, improving accessibility, and enhancing safety and aesthetics in public spaces. The tool emphasizes collaborative dialogue between residents and local authorities, fostering co-learning and informed decision-making based on cost–benefit analyses of proposed modifications. While comprehensive and time-intensive, PABEM offers a flexible framework adaptable to various rural contexts and aims to strengthen community bonds and support health-promoting environments through inclusive participation.