The Model of Physical Activity-Friendly City with the Active Cities, Active Communities, Active Citizens Approach

Active cities are an investment source in the development of environmental, social, economic and human capitals. Their effect on aspects of urban life is very tangible and cannot easily be ignored. An important issue in active cities is to consider different age groups and the need for a comprehensive review of factors that contribute both directly and indirectly. The aim of the present study is to propose a physical activity-friendly city model. This qualitative study uses a grounded theory approach (Constructive). In this study, two sources of information are used to collect data: 1. interviews with seven elites who carried out research in the field of active cities, managers who have experience in the field of sport for all, and some sports managers of Tehran municipality, and 2. coding 12 validated articles on active cities. After coding in three stages, 534 open codes were obtained by repeating the two stages of coding articles and interviews (286 open codes from articles and 248 open codes from interviews). After careful examination of the TAFISA active city model, division of biological models in four general levels, adjacency of open codes, and review of articles published in this field, the open codes were divided into three general layers and one axis. Finally, an indigenous model of converting Tehran into a physical activity-friendly was achieved, which can provide guidelines for managers to achieve the active city, active communities and active citizens.