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About Cushla
Cushla Dares serves as an Assistant Research Fellow in the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Christchurch, where she dedicates two days a week to the Activating Change through Interventions for Active Travel in our Neighbourhoods (ACTIVATION) research project team. Her academic background includes a BtchLn, BA(Hons), and MA from the University of Canterbury, complemented by her current status as a doctoral candidate at Lincoln University. As a member of the Transport, Society and Environment Group (TSEG) within the department, Dares contributes to research emphasizing social and environmental dimensions of transport, including road safety, mobility for older adults, transport equity, accessibility, active travel, and policy impacts on public health. The TSEG addresses critical issues such as concessionary fares' effects on wellbeing and equity, travel injury rates, interventions for active travel, urban environments for falls risk, and healthcare accessibility in ageing populations.
Dares has co-authored numerous research outputs documenting transport-related public health challenges. Key publications include the report 'Getting Around 2: Summary Results 2024' (2026) with Helen Fitt, Angela Curl, Joanne Stevenson, Christina McKerchar, and Jonathan Williman; 'Access to Food, Healthcare, and Social Connection for Residents of Social Housing' (2026) with Christina McKerchar; the journal article 'A participatory virtual audit of the built environment for age-friendliness' (2025) alongside Angela Curl, Alison Watkins, Amanda Smithies, Tessa Pocock, Jonathan Williman, Verity Todd, and Bridget Robson; conference presentation 'Does shared mobility enhance transport equity among older adults?' with Angela Curl, Helen Fitt, Els Russell, Christina McKerchar, and Simon Kingham; 'Shared ambition: Should shared mobility feature in a transition to more equitable and sustainable transport?' with Simon Kingham and Helen Fitt; 'Getting Around Survey 2022 - Summary Results' with Simon Kingham, Anna Coppens, and Rachel Haselden; and 'Accessibility and Affordability Impacts of Half Price Public Transport Fares in Aotearoa New Zealand' (2023) with Angela Curl, Anna Coppens, Jonathan Williman, Helen Fitt, and Simon Kingham. A University of Otago news release highlighted findings from the half-price fares study, noting benefits for those experiencing transport poverty. Dares participates in funded projects like ACTIVATION (Healthier Lives and Ageing Well, 2020-2024), promoting neighbourhood active travel interventions, and a participatory virtual street audit for falls risk in urban environments (University of Otago Research Grant, 2020-), demonstrating her commitment to evidence-based public health advancements in transport and mobility.
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