AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

“They design streets to let cars make faster turns, but they don’t built an island in the middle of a crosswalk to let people cross safely,” said Gil Penalosa, founder and chair of the Toronto-based planning non-profit 8 80 Cities.

“The engineers say `the elected officials won’t let us build an island because the drivers will be angry.’

I say ‘the children of those drivers are getting killed in the streets.’”

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

“Cities put posts and obstructions in the middle of the sidewalk,” said Gil Penalosa, founder and chair of the Toronto-based planning non-profit 8 80 Cities.

“I say `You wouldn’t think of putting a post in the middle of the car lane, why would you think it is good to do that in the middle of the sidewalk,”

noting the obvious message is speeding cars are more important than the safety of children, people with disabilities and seniors on the sidewalk.

 

 

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AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Gil Penalosa, founder and chair of the Toronto-based planning non-profit 8 80 Cities, said building a great network of wide, well-maintained sidewalks is one of the best things a mayor or city manager can do for a community’s sustainability.

“I have walked on streets where the sidewalk kept sloping for driveways and I thought `this is terrible for wheelchair users, this could cause a person to fall down and get injured.’

I told this to the city official, who said it meets the standards.

I said ‘maybe the standards are dumb.”

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Gil Penalosa, founder and chair of the Toronto-based planning non-profit 8 80 Cities, said senior citizens benefit from not being isolated, but the community benefits as well.

 

He pointed to the huge amount of retired doctors and nurses who responded by volunteering to help overtaxed hospital staff responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are studies that show that when (senior citizens) lose their driving privileges, it is as traumatic as a cancer diagnosis.

Because in so many cities, the car is the only way to be mobile and make a doctor’s appointment or grocery run,” he said.

“In walkable cities with transit, losing a car doesn’t mean losing your friends, your stores, your places you’ve gone all your life.”

 

 

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Gil Penalosa, founder and chair of the Toronto-based planning non-profit 8 80 Cities, believes cities will retrofit with infrastructure to support mobility by walking, biking and wheelchair despite the temporary need for isolation because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Everyone is looking for the magic pill to address obesity, diabetes, heart trouble and more. 

The answer is getting around by walking, crutches, wheelchair – I don’t care how you move, but you need to move about in ways other than using a car – it’s also very crucial to mental health,’’ he said.

 

“The only places where large amounts of people walk at least five days a week are those with the infrastructure to support walking, biking, transit and mobility for people with disabilities.”

 

 

 

 

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

There is an ongoing trend in America of people moving from rural to urban areas.

 

The trend toward more livable cities with more amenities within walking distance is a huge improvement in quality of life for people with disabilities.

 

Premium public transit, wide sidewalks, safe crosswalks and the ability to meet all daily needs without requiring an $80,000 lift-equipped wheelchair van is a huge asset to people who use assistive mobility devices.

 

US census and respected data sources indicate between one in four or one in five Americans who will experience some level of disability that impacts their daily lives.