Elderly & Disabled
Seniors in the Vegas Suburbs Have to Cross Merciless Streets
Senior citizens in the sprawling Las Vegas suburb of Henderson want a safe way to cross the street. The city promises a fix is on the way, but the problem is far bigger than a single crossing.
May 23, 2017
Portland — And Soon, Detroit — Bring Bike-Share to People With Disabilities
Riding a bicycle is too often thought of as an activity that's off-limits for many disabled people. And that has continued to be the case with the bike-share systems getting off the ground in several American cities, which provide standard bicycles meant for the able-bodied. But that's starting to change, thanks to a yearlong effort in Portland that's the first of its kind in the United States.
May 11, 2017
Study Links Walkable Neighborhoods to Prevention of Cognitive Decline
Older adults who live in walkable neighborhoods stay in better shape, physically and mentally, than those who live in car-dependent areas, according to a new study.
November 12, 2014
Study: Baby Boomers Living in Cities Are More Socially Active
As Baby Boomers age, cities seems to be better places for them to get the social interaction they seek, according to a new study published in the Journal of Transport Geography.
May 2, 2014
Richard Florida: Seniors Want Vibrant, Livable Cities Too
When he settled on Miami as his designated spot to escape Toronto winters, urbanist Richard Florida said he expected “all young people with a lot of gel in their hair.” What surprised him was finding a pocket of baby boomer urbanites from cities like Washington, DC, who came to Miami for its arts, diversity and walkability.
June 7, 2013
How Rethinking the Golf Course Could Help Seniors Age in Place
The 15,753 golf courses in the United States take up more space than half the state of New Jersey. And though they devour so much land, much of it in suburbia, the sport is foundering -- in part because of the enormous amount of time and distance it requires. Some real estate professionals and experts on aging have come together to suggest a solution both for the decline of the game and the land use problems posed by these massive courses: Build mixed-use development inside them.
January 9, 2013
Do Seniors Want the Livability Improvements AARP Wants For Them?
Oahu, Hawaii should be the ideal place to walk for transportation, but it has the nation’s highest pedestrian fatality rate for senior citizens – more than twice the next-highest state. So the state enacted a Complete Streets policy in 2009, seeking to “reasonably accommodate” everyone -- “pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and persons of all ages and abilities” -- on public roadways.
December 19, 2012
As Baby Boomers Age, They Take Their Foot Off the Gas
They may be remembered as the driving-est generation. Baby Boomers, who came of age in the heyday of suburbia, have always driven more than any other generation. At the height of their driving years, boomers averaged 51 miles per day. They continue to drive 17 percent more than all other age groups, according to a recent report from AARP.
November 13, 2012
Should Doctors Play a Role in Determining Who’s Fit to Drive?
When to take grandma's keys away: In the United States, this question treated is largely treated as a family matter.
September 28, 2012
AASHTO’s Vision of Safe Streets for Seniors: Bigger Type on Highway Signs
Last June, Transportation for America brought the nation’s attention to the fact that older Americans are increasingly stuck in the suburbs without adequate transportation options, leading them to see family and friends and even doctors less. That same month, the Senate Banking Committee held a hearing on transportation access for older Americans.
March 2, 2012