Dutch Project Cristie Blandford Man & Humanity
Elderly & Mobility Mentor: Irene
The Dutch elderly (70+) make 24% of all their trips by bike. Pucher, J. & Buehler, R. (2008) Making Cycling Irresistible: Lessons from The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, Transport Reviews, 28:4, 495 — 528
The death rate is particularly high for elderly cyclists. The rate is about 12 times higher for the 75 years and older than for 'the average cyclist'.
SWOV (2008) Fact Sheet; The Elderly in Traffic [English report] Leidschendam, the Netherlands
SWOV (2009) Fact Sheet; Cyclists [English report] Leidschendam, the Netherlands
Balance - thought to be the main problem
Leads to Motorised transport
-Car -Pedelec (power assisted bikes) -Scooters -Mobility Scooters Later; ‘the elderly often have already stopped cycling, partly because of loss of balance. Saying farewell to their car, often is also a farewell to part of their social lives.’
SWOV (2008) Fact Sheet; The Elderly in Traffic [English report] Leidschendam, the Netherlands
If a car-bike collision involves a child or a elderly person, "the motorist is usually judged to be entirely at fault." "When a crash is caused by an illegal move by a cyclist or a pedestrian, the motorist is almost always judged to be partly at fault."
John Forester (2000) Review of Charles Komanoff's White Paper, Getting Motorists to Share the Road www.johnforester.com
Elderly Crossing- Road Sign UK
Design Routes Elderly- Improve balance (sustain through exercises. Eg. Wii fit) Bike- Improve balance on a bike (Bike bags and centre of gravity) Other road users- Raise awareness of vulnerability of Elderly Elderly- Look at injuries and fatalities; Could protective clothing/ bike amendments help?
Elderly- Improve balance (sustain through exercises. Eg. Wii fit)
www.balance-exercises.com physicaltherapy.about.com www.eldergym.com
Balance - rear wheel bike bags thought to aid balance by lowering centre of gravity
Bike- Improve balance on a bike (Bike bags and centre of gravity)
When the bike falls in a collision or through loss of balance rear wheel bags can provide a separation from the body of the rider and the pavement. The contents of the bags also absorbs some of the impact- cushioning the fall.
Preventing Injury- protection
Approach from a different angle. Posters designed to get the elderly to question whether a journey by car is necessary- preventing them from endangering themselves and other upon the roads.
RCA Helen Hamlym / Toyota
Next step: 1. Writing to SWOV (Institute for Road Safety Research) about statistics information- Injuries sustained in statistics information. Particularly in the instances of fatalities. 2. Contacting elderly people* in Eindhoven for a personal take on the issue- Plan of envelope. DUTCH 3. Contact Healthy Ageing Network- Northern Netherlands about the project. *Residents aged 75+
Introduce myself Explain project Ask whether the person still cycles? If no reason for giving up. If yes ask about journeys used for (where do you go?) Are you having any difficulties now your older?
Include picture of me
Ask to indicate name/sex/age/ Ask if it is ok if I contact you again? If yes provide contact details below
Size font- 12/14pt