Deliverable 4.2 of the project GOAL deals with walking and cycling of older people. Walking and cycling are active transport modes, essential for independence, and autonomy of older people. Furthermore, walking and cycling play an important role for physical and mental fitness and health of the elderly. The objectives of the deliverable are to analyse 1. walking and cycling needs of older people including purposes of walking and cycling (chapter 2) 2. walking and cycling facilities for older people including infrastructural needs, walking and cycling promotion and information as well as best practise examples (chapter 3) 3. needs and available facilities related to the profiles of older people (chapter 6) In the final section (chapter 7), research gaps and future research requirements are outlined. Most of the findings are based on international literature. The results dealing with the profile related walking and cycling habits and needs of older people are mainly derived from the results from GOAL WP 2 (Development of Profiles of Older People GOAL, 2012a) as well as further literature sources. Walking and cycling are among the easy accessible and commonly used means of transportation among older people in Europe, which maintain or lead to active lives. In general, being active and mobile leads to a number of advantages which are related to people’s quality of life. A study by Metz (2000) systematised these benefits: 1. Travel to achieve access to desired people and places 2. Psychological benefits of movement - of “getting out and about” 3. Exercise benefits (exercise as part of everyday mobility) 4. Involvement in the local community (informal local support networks) 5. Potential travel (knowing that a trip could be made even if not actually undertaken) Moderate physical activity, such as walking and cycling, are clearly associated with positive health outcomes (Lee et al., 2008; Oja et al., 1998). The benefits of regular physical activity can be most relevant for preventing, minimizing, and potentially reversing many of the agerelated psychosocial, cognitive, and physical hazards and diseases that accompany advancing age, and thus, maintain/enhance the quality of life (Le Masurier et al., 2008; Heidelberg guidelines, 1996; Schutzer & Graves, 2004; HHS, 1996; PAGAC, 2008; Bauma et al., 2005; Paterson et al., 2007; Paterson et al., 2010). Physically active lives do not only prevent from such diseases, such as osteoporosis, obesity, depression, coronary heart disease, or diabetes, but also promote health (e.g. cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, healthier body mass and composition), lower the risk of falling, and increase cognitive functioning and people’s wellbeing (British Medical Association, 2012). Hence, part of the solution to chronic diseases and rising health care costs may be as simple as walking every day (Lee et al., 2008). Walking is still the most commonly used means of transportation among the elderly in Europe followed by driving cars and using public transport (Szenamo, 2010). With increasing age, walking is becoming more important due to several advantages: walking is relatively safe, accessible to everyone (if adequate infrastructure is available) and it is easy to be integrated into daily routine (Szenamo, 2010). Older people walk two thirds of their trips, hence direct accessibility to local facilities and services are very important (DIW, 2006 in Burmeister, 2008). Main purposes of walking for older people involve: getting to local facilities and services, walking to and from public transport services and cars, walking as leisure activity (e.g. going for walks, going to friends, taking part in events, etc.), and walking as a safely perceived transport mode as well as personal attitudes and habits (Banister & Bowing, 2004; Burmeister, 2008). Safety issues are particularly important for older pedestrians especially in urban areas with heavy traffic as well as in suburban and rural areas where footpaths are missing or lighting may be poor, and need to be particularly assured (Suen & Sen, 2004). Besides, there is a large body of evidence for a strong inverse relationship between (commuter) cycling and the morbidity and mortality (Oja et al., 2011). In a training program for bicycle safety and safe cycling for elderly adults in Germany, the benefits of cycling are directly related to the health domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), which pointed out the potential health benefits of cycling and physical activity, but also their “corresponding significance in the social context, for instance taking part in celebrations or leisure activities or, more generally, a person’s involvement in a life situation” (Freiberger, 2011, p.5). However, compared to walking, a lower number of older people cycle. This may be due to a lack of cycling-experience and skills, concerns about safety or due to a lack of information. However, an increasing number of older people are starting to cycle for leisure and fitness (Burmeister, 2008). There are several advantages for older people for using a bicycle: cycling is inexpensive, environmentally friendly, time saving, and healthy. It increases independence and autonomy as well as improves health and fitness at the same time. For some elderly cycling is easier than walking, especially when the bicycle is used for carrying heavy loads (e.g. shopping bags). Main purposes for elderly cycling are related to leisure activities and fitness, support for carrying heavy loads, and cycling as daily supply (e.g. for shopping, taking part in social activities, etc.) (Burmeister, 2008; Shergold & Parkhurst, 2009; Forschung Radverkehr, 2011).On the other hand, physical restrictions (eyesight, hearing, cognitive impairments, etc.) lead to more accidents and a higher risk of severe injuries at advanced age. Thus older people often feel unsafe when riding a bicycle (Burmeister, 2008; Forschung Radverkehr, 2011). Electric bicycle may serve as alternatives to conventional bicycles. They can be operated with less exertion and may encourage elderly to undertake more local trips (Suen & Sen, 2004). However, again, safety issues need to be particularly assured for older people also for this transport mode. Cycling and brisk walking may importantly contribute to meeting the recommended international guidelines on healthy physical activity for (older) adults, being at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week (Garber et al., 2011). Despite the demonstrated health benefits and reduced health risks associated with physical activity, in the UK only 36.3% of the adults over 65 year reach the recommended amount of physical activity (Le Masurier et al., 2008). In contrast, in the Netherlands, 55.2% of older adults (65 year and older) meet the physical activity guidelines (Hendriksen et al., 2012). Hence, in order to maintain healthy lives and wellbeing, as well as to decrease health care costs in the future, the active lives, and respectively walking and/or cycling, must not only be supported. Chapters 2 and 3 are investigating the role of walking and cycling in the lives of nowadays older people by discussing different purposes and general needs of older people regarding walking and cycling. Chapters 4 and 5 discuss current and emerging facilities that support older people in walking and cycling, including walking and cycling infrastructure, walking and cycling aids, promotion and information as well as training measures, and several best practice examples. Chapter 6 analyses specific needs of older people in the different GOAL Profiles by describing their profile-specific walking and cycling habits and corresponding needs. In addition, the role of walking and cycling for profile transitions is discussed. Finally, the report closes with conclusions and recommendations that provide input for the formulation of research needs and required actions for the GOAL Action Plan. (Author/publisher)
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