Active Transportation: Walking and Biking for Older Adults Jennifer - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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…

morbidity mortality

• besity

type 2 diabetes cardiovascular disease

• steoporosis

chronic pain chronic obstructive pulmonary disease high cholesterol high blood pressure some cancers risk of falls clinical depression depressive symptoms Alzheimer’s risk

May improve…

living independently quality of life well-being physical function cognitive function

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

53% 49% 49% 50% 51% 54% 59% 52% 54% 59% 60% 66% 18 - 24 25 - 34 35 - 44 45 - 54 55 - 64 65 or older

% of adults meeting 150 minute recommendation

U.S. Washington

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

76% 71% 69% 76% 75% 74% 74% 72% 63% 52% 35% 11% 8% 10% 10% 9% 8% 6% 2% 1% 5-15 16-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+ 1 or more walk trips in past 7 days 1 or more bike trips in past 7 days

Data from 2017 National Household Travel Survey. Of the older adults that walk, about half is for transportation. Of those that bike, most is for recreation.

Women are less likely to bike

74% 73% 67% 60% 74% 71% 60% 48% 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+

Walked in the past 7 days

Male Female 11% 9% 4% 2% 6% 3% 1% 0% 55-64 65-74 75-84 85+

Biked in the past 7 days

Male Female

Density can help, but not required

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 18-34 35-54 55-65 65+

Walked in the last 7 days

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 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 18-34 35-54 55-65 65+

Biked in the last 7 days

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

Density in census tract, housing units/sq. mile

Cycling rates are high among older adults in some countries

3 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.5 2 2 2 1 1 14 9 9 9 11 9 32 20 14 14 15 15 15 40 25 21 22 23 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 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 +

Percent of trips by cycling Age Group

NL US A GER DK UK Cycling declines with age in the US, but not Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands

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

• Traffic
• Destinations nearby (shops, services,

parks, malls, etc.)

• Fall hazards
• Sidewalk quality
• Perception of crime
• Safe crossings
• Sufficient crossing time
• Scenery
• Places to stop and rest

Bicycling

• Traffic
• Destinations nearby (shops, services,

parks, malls, etc.)

• Safety fears
• Lack of a bike
• Lack of experience/confidence biking

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 Networks, December 2016

Ellensburg, WA

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) Provide for a “Leading Pedestrian Interval” of 3-7 seconds.

Saugutuck, Michigan

Credit: Dan Burden https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencounter measures/lead_ped_int/ Credit: Toole Design Group

Credit: Urban, Rural and Suburban Complete Streets Design Manual For The City Of Northampton And Communities In Hampshire County, January 2017

Reducing traffic speeds

Scenery and facilities

Saugutuck, Michigan

Credit: Dan Burden

Portland, ME

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+ “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.” “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.”

Encouragement programs

• Skills training
• Mentoring/Buddy programs
• Group rides/walks
• Bike loan/test programs
• Walk audits
• Open Streets events

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.

“I loved the wind blowing through your hair, that was lovely! ... That was the exhilarating part of it” (71-year-

• ld female).

Feedback from one skills & support program:

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