A One Health logic model to support the evaluation of car-free areas around schools in French cities

As part of the JA PreventNCD project, the French Healthy Cities Network (FHCN) is leading a pilot in La Rochelle, Lyon, and Marseille to evaluate car-free areas around schools. While existing evaluation tools assess health impacts, none currently adopt a One Health (OH) perspective integrating human, animal, plant health, and environmental quality. Therefore, this pilot has 2 main objectives: first, to develop an evaluation tool based on a One Health approach, and second, to design a user-friendly tool that cities can use autonomously, adapted to their available resources (funding, skills, and data), without relying on research teams. To address these needs, a working group with the 3 municipalities has been launched and a logic model was developed. Initially drafted by the FHCN, it has been iteratively refined through 7 workshops held between February 2025 and June 2026 with representatives from the 3 cities (urban planning, health, mobility…). The resulting model provides a detailed and structured mapping of car-free areas components, from school selection to specific urban features such as greening and play spaces. For each component, it identifies associated short-term effects and links them to multiple health determinants across the OH spectrum. The model also integrates key prerequisites and contextual factors (governance, political support, resources etc.) which strongly influence implementation. The model provides both a practical decision-support tool for planning and a structured framework for evaluation. Its co-construction strengthened intersectoral collaboration and fostered the emergence of a multidisciplinary local network, supporting more integrated and sustainable approaches. The OH approach, combined with the co-construction of the logic model with cities, proves to be an innovative strategy that bridges scientific knowledge and decision-making, while fostering synergies around cross-sectoral initiatives such as car-free areas around schools.

Key messages

• The One Health logic model helps cities plan and evaluate car-free areas around schools by linking urban developement to human, animal, plant and environmental health.

• Co-designed with municipalities, this practical tool empowers local action and fosters cross-sector collaboration for healthier urban environments around schools.