13. Calls on Member States, regions and local entities to be more proactive in developing ‘activity-friendly communities', especially in the context of urban planning to make municipalities conducive to physical exercise as a daily routine and by creating opportunities in the local environment that motivate people to engage in leisure time physical activity; this can be achieved by introducing local measures to reduce reliance on cars and promoting walking and by mixing in a sensible way commercial and residential development, by pro ...[+++]moting public means of transport, parks and accessible sports facilities, biking trails, pedestrian crossings; invites municipalities to promote a network of ‘towns for a healthy lifestyle’ providing common actions to fight obesity;

In other places such as residential areas, public parks, sports and recreation grounds, school grounds, children's playgrounds and in the vicinity of public healthcare facilities (clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, health resorts, hospices) , the risks from exposure to pesticides of the general public are high.

the use of pesticides shall be prohibited or restricted to the minimum necessary in all areas used by the general public or by sensitive population groups , at least in residential areas, parks, public gardens, sports and recreation grounds, school grounds and playgrounds and in the vicinity of public healthcare facilities (clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, health resorts, hospices) as well as in substantial no-spray zones including in fields around these areas, particularly, although not exclusively, to protect sensitive groups such as babies, children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions ...[+++] and who may be taking medication;

Consumer services are also covered, such as those in the field of tourism, including tour guides; leisure services, sports centres and amusement parks; and, to the extent that they are not excluded from the scope of application of the Directive, household support services, such as help for the elderly.

These problems are most acute where residential densities are low and where daily activities (home, work, shopping) are widely separated.

It therefore makes land available for other uses, e.g. amenity, nature parks or protection of biodiversity.