Active Transportation: Walking and Biking for Older Adults Jennifer Dill, Ph.D. Professor, Urban Studies & Planning Director, Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC)
Benefits of physical activity for older adults May reduce… May improve… morbidity living independently mortality quality of life obesity well-being type 2 diabetes physical function cardiovascular disease cognitive function osteoporosis chronic pain chronic obstructive pulmonary disease high cholesterol high blood pressure some cancers risk of falls clinical depression depressive symptoms Alzheimer’s risk Kerr, J., Rosenberg, D., & Frank, L. (2012). The role of the built environment in healthy aging: community design, physical activity, and health among older adults. Journal of Planning Literature , 27 (1), 43-60.
What helps? • Recommended: 150 minutes of moderate activity (e.g. brisk walking) per week and muscle strengthening 2x/week • OR: 75 minutes of vigorous + muscle strengthening 2x/week • As little as 10 minutes of moderate activity counts https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/older_adults/index.htm Photos by Dan Burden
Many older adults do get 150 minutes/week % of adults meeting 150 minute recommendation U.S. Washington 66% 60% 59% 59% 54% 54% 53% 52% 51% 50% 49% 49% 18 - 24 25 - 34 35 - 44 45 - 54 55 - 64 65 or older 2015 BRFSS data https://nccd.cdc.gov/dnpao_dtm/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=DNPAO_DTM.ExploreByLocation&rdRequestForwarding=Form
What do we know about walking & bicycling among older adults?
Walking & Biking rates in the US 1 or more walk trips in past 7 days 1 or more bike trips in past 7 days Data from 2017 76% 76% 75% 74% 74% 72% National Household 71% 69% Travel Survey. 63% 52% Of the older adults that walk, about half 35% is for transportation. Of those that bike, most is for 11% 10% 10% 9% 8% 8% 6% recreation. 2% 1% 5-15 16-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+
Women are less likely to bike Walked in the past 7 days Biked in the past 7 days 74% 74% 73% 71% 67% 60% 60% 48% 11% 9% 6% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+ 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+ Male Female Male Female
Density can help, but not required Walked in the last 7 days Biked in the last 7 days 100% 40% 90% 35% 80% 30% 70% 25% 60% 50% 20% 40% 15% 30% 10% 20% 5% 10% 0% 0% 18-34 35-54 55-65 65+ 18-34 35-54 55-65 65+ 0-99 100-499 500-999 1,000-1,999 0-99 100-499 500-999 1,000-1,999 2,000-3,999 4,000-9,999 10,000-24,999 25,000-999,999 2,000-3,999 4,000-9,999 10,000-24,999 25,000-999,999 Density in census tract, housing units/sq. mile
45 Cycling rates are high 40 among older adults in 35 some countries Percent of trips by cycling NL 30 Cycling declines with age in the DK US, but not Germany, Denmark, 25 and the Netherlands 20 40 GER 32 15 UK US A 25 21 22 23 10 20 14 14 15 15 15 14 9 9 9 11 9 5 2 2 2 1 1 3 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.5 0 5-15 16-24 25-39 40-65 65 + 0-16 17-29 30-59 60-65 65+ 0-17 18-25 26-44 45-59 60-65 65 + 10-19' 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-74 0-17 18-25 26-44 45-64 65 + Age Group Source: Pucher and Buehler (eds.) City Cycling. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2012
What can we do to support more walking & bicycling among older adults?
Walking & biking in a neighborhood: Barriers/Influencers for older adults Walking Bicycling • Traffic • Traffic • Destinations nearby (shops, services, • Destinations nearby (shops, services, parks, malls, etc.) parks, malls, etc.) • Fall hazards • Safety fears • Sidewalk quality • Lack of a bike • Perception of crime • Lack of experience/confidence biking • Safe crossings • Sufficient crossing time • Scenery • Places to stop and rest
Some Resources AARP Livable Communities: https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/ 8 to 80 Cities: https://www.880cities.org/ National Association of City Transportation Officials: nacto.org
Sidewalks (and sidewalk maintenance!) Bellevue, WA Credit: Dan Burden US DOT, FHWA
Shared use paths & sidepaths City of Vancouver https://www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrec/page/burnt-bridge-creek-trail-8-miles
Protected Bike Lanes (aka separated bike lanes) US DOT, FHWA, SEPARATED BIKE LANE PLANNING AND DESIGN GUIDE
Protected Bike Lanes (aka separated bike lanes) Phoenix, AZ https://www.phoenix.gov/news/streets/1863 Austin, TX Bluebonnet Lane
Bicycle boulevards
Bicycle boulevards Arcata, CA US DOT, FHWA, Small Town and Rural Multimodal Ellensburg, WA Networks, December 2016 https://peopleforbikes.org/blog/red-county-blue-county- ellensburg-wa-finds-a-bikeway-makes-good-sense/
Connected networks US DOT, FHWA, Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks, December 2016
Safer crossings Ramps at crosswalks Reduce crossing distances with bulb-outs Tigthen curb radii Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacons Allow longer times for pedestrian signal (assume slower walking speed, e.g. 2.5 ft/sec) Credit: Toole Design Group Provide for a “Leading Pedestrian Interval” of 3-7 Saugutuck, Michigan seconds. Credit: Dan Burden Credit: Urban, Rural and Suburban Complete Streets Design Manual For The City Of Northampton And Communities In Hampshire County, https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencounter January 2017 measures/lead_ped_int/
Reducing traffic speeds
Scenery and facilities Saugutuck, Michigan Portland, ME Credit: Dan Burden Credit: Dan Burden
Electric-assist bicycles, tricycles National survey of over 1,600 e-bike owners found that 28% were owned by people aged 55-64; 19% by 65+ “As a 64-year old retired person, it is a new and exciting experience to ride along the gorgeous dedicated bike path near the Sacramento River where I live. I don't give up and feel too exhausted trying to bike up the hills.” “I am 63 years old and have had 3 knee surgeries and cardiac bypass. Having an e-bike enables me to ride more often than I would on my regular bike. You need to understand how beneficial e-bikes are to us as we get older.”
Encouragement programs • Skills training • Mentoring/Buddy programs • Group rides/walks • Bike loan/test programs • Walk audits • Open Streets events Feedback from one skills & support program: “I loved the wind blowing through your hair, that was lovely! ... That was the exhilarating part of it” (71 -year- old female). Zander, A., Passmore, E., Mason, C., & Rissel, C. (2013). Joy, exercise, enjoyment, getting out: a qualitative study of older people's experience of cycling in Sydney, Australia. Journal of environmental and public health , 2013 .
Final Thoughts and Questions • It’s not rocket science (perhaps political science?) • The benefits are great, and extend to all ages • Plans and policies are important • Involve the community • Multimodal system is important • New modes? • Contact me: jdill@pdx.edu
Recommend
More recommend
