If we are to maximise the longevity dividend, we all need to live healthier not just longer. Too many of us are being forced out of work too early due to poor health. And poor health results in lower consumer spending.
The Government’s recently published obesity policy paper recognised the importance of remaining active. And COVID-19 has inspired cities across the world to invest in cycle infrastructure. Places like Paris, Milan, and New York, historically hostile to cycling have created hundreds of miles of temporary infrastructure.
Yet in the UK, as we get older, we cycle less.
The picture with walking isn’t much better, In England, men aged between 30 and 69 actually walk slightly more as they age while women walk considerably less. As we hit our 70s there is a significant drop-off in miles walked by men and women.
But we know that whatever our age, active travel works. We also know that supporting people to get to and around our town centres is vital if we are to begin to see an economic rebound. New and improved E-bikes and Scooters could play their part.
We have a relatively short window to deliver policy changes which could better support more of us to cycle and walk.
Speakers included:
Susan Claris, Associate Director, Transport Consulting, Arup
Dr Ian Walker, FHEA, Department of Psychology, University of Bath
Cllr Suzanne Bartington, Oxfordshire County Councillor
Tom McPhail, Director of Public Affairs, Pure Electric
Webinar: Can cycling and walking help release the longevity dividend?
1. Can cycling and walking help
release the longevity dividend?
Join the conversation: @ilcuk
#LongevityDividend
2. What is ILC?
ILC is the UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on
society and what happens next. We:
• Are independent and politically neutral
• Use evidence-based research for policy
• Work collaboratively to pioneer solutions for the future
Our work focuses on three strategic priorities:
• Maximising the benefits of longevity
• Ensuring longer lives are good for everyone
• Future-proofing policy and practice
Join the conversation: @ilcuk
#LongevityDividend
7. 7
We shape a better world
Walking and
Cycling and Older
People
Susan Claris
Transport Planner, Arup
Vice President, Living Streets
8. 8
Walking and Cycling and Older People: Overview
1. Some stats
2. Benefits of walking and cycling
3. Actions - how to improve walking
and cycling for older people
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8488365/Go-like-wind-
Hollywood-icon-Dame-Olivia-Havilland-riding-bike-age-104.html
14. 14
Benefits for older people of more walking and cycling
Wealth
Transport is one of largest items of
household expenditure:
people 65-74: 16%
people 75+: 11%
Source: Public Health England
Health
Source: ONS, National Household Expenditure in the UK, FYE 2019 - £585.60 per week
15. 15
Benefits for places of more walking and cycling
Residential streets Town centres
Source: Mayor’s Transport Strategy
16. 16
Benefits to the planet of more walking and cycling
Carbon
Environment
Equality
17. 1717
3. Actions - how to improve
walking and cycling for older
people
19. 19
Walking and cycling needs to be planned and designed
for all to achieve the transformational change in travel
behaviour that is required to address climate, health, air
quality issues etc
I. Improve governance, planning and decision making
II. Create better places for everyone to walk and cycle
III. Welcome and support all people to walk and cycle
https://www.arup.com/perspectives/publications/research/section/cycling-for-everyone-a-guide-for-inclusive-
cycling-in-cities-and-towns
Inclusive Cycling (and walking)
20. 20
Cycling for everyone: A guide for inclusive cycling
1: Improve governance, planning and decision making
1. Design walking and cycling strategies and
plans to address, and be evaluated
against, how they reduce inequity
2. Increase diversity and representation in
decision-making and the transport sector
3. Improve decision making through better
evidence and public engagement
21. 21
Cycling for everyone: A guide for inclusive cycling
2: Create better places for everyone to walk and cycle in
1. Improve road safety, primarily
through protected space for
walking and cycling, and low-
traffic neighbourhoods
2. Address personal safety and
harassment
3. Ensure walking and cycling
infrastructure is fully inclusive
22. 22
Cycling for everyone: A guide for inclusive cycling
3: Welcome and support all people to walk and cycle
1. Use inclusive language and imagery,
and ensure walking and cycling is
welcoming and celebrates diversity
2. Ensure cost is not a barrier to access a
cycle
3. Offer free cycle training for all children
and adults
23. 23
The impact of small changes
Small changes can make a big difference
– have Council Member budgets for
small works
25. 25
Pedestrian crossings
More benches
Public toilets
Reduce car dominance
Stop pavement parking
Parklets
Importance of maintenance
Small changes
What sort of streets and places do we want?
26. 26
We shape a better world
Thank you & questions
https://www.arup.com/expertise/industry/walking-and-cycling
susan.claris@arup.com
@susanclaris
27. Dr Ian Walker
FHEA, Department of Psychology,
University of Bath
Join the conversation: @ilcuk
#LongevityDividend
28. Older pedestrians’ experience of walking in Bath
Ian Walker
Stephanie Calley
Department of Psychology
University of Bath
29. The context of Bath
Historic city with a clear “heart”
Central river, with footpaths
Two substantial universities and an important tourist industry
30. Interviews
Participants largely recruited through
Age UK
Short, semi-structured interviews to
elicit experiences of walking in the city
Used maps to make discussions more
concrete
Transcribed then studied for themes
31. Overview
Themes could be grouped into three broad categories:
Environmental
Individual
Interpersonal
32.
33. Individual factors
Recognition that walking trips vary in purpose
Intrinsic pleasure of walking discussed
Age constraints were raised, in particular issues with failing
vision and fear of the consequences of falling
34. Environmental factors
The physical world was largely experienced as barriers
Motor traffic (danger, noise, pollution) and ineffectual
infrastructure (pedestrian crossing design, slippery surfaces)
deterred people from walking
Blocked or inadequate footpaths were a further barrier
35. Interpersonal factors
The outside world was often described as a hostile place
thanks to other people
Groups of young people, and crowds in general, were perceived
negatively
Homelessness, drunkenness and crime induced fear
Sharing space with cyclists induced fear
38. Interpretation
Our findings fit the claims of human geographers, that behaviour is
constrained by the built environment
But our findings extend this by seeing other people as an additional
facet of the external world: a social environment, nested within the
physical one
The outside world was largely described as an intimidating place filled
with physical and social barriers
Coping strategies were limited. In particular, our participants often
reported never going out at night
43. Regulatory controls
• Electric Scooters
• Legal on private land only
• Government trials
• 500 watt power limit
• 15.5 mph
• Driving licence required
• Roads and cycle lanes
• Electric Bikes – EAPC
• Same rules as bikes
• 250 watt
• 15.5 mph
• Minimum age 14
44. 0%
50%
100%
150%
200%
250%
300%
350%
400%
450%
Use of transport modes: Great Britain, since 1 March 2020a
Cars2 Light Commercial Vehicles2 Heavy Goods Vehicles2
All motor vehicles2 National Rail3,4 Transport for London Tube5
Transport for London Bus5,7 Bus (excl. London)6,8,9 Cycling10,11
45. Benefits of cycling
• Physical inactivity costs the NHS up to £1bn a year, further indirect costs at £8.2
billion a year
• Regular physical activity reduces risk of:
• Dementia by up to 30%
• Hip fractures by up to 68%
• Type 2 diabetes by up to 40%
• Depression by up to 30%
• Cardiovascular disease by up to 35%
46. The effect of cycling on cognitive function
and well-being in older adults
Leyland L-A, Spencer B, Beale N, Jones T, van Reekum CM (2019) The effect of cycling on cognitive function and well-being in older
adults. PLoS ONE 14(2): e0211779. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211779
• 100 Adults aged 50 – 83
• 26 non-cycling controls
• 36 conventional pedal cycles
• 38 ebikes
• Both cycling groups improved cognitive function performance compared to
control group
• E-bike participants improved mental health score compared to control group
• “Importantly, we showed a similar (sometimes larger) effect for the ebike
group compared to the pedal cyclists”
47. Shimano e-bike report
• 1 in 4 Europeans either own an ebike or is likely to buy one this year
• Main motivations: Increase distance, improve health, less effort
• Main barrier (40%) is cost, also don’t like cycling, don’t feel safe
• Percentage likely to buy or use an ebike, more now than 12 months ago:
• Netherlands 26%
• Spain 21%
• France 19%
• Italy 30%
• Switzerland 26%
• United Kingdom 7%
• Across Europe, consistent trend of over 55s being least likely to use an ebike
48. DfT Transport Attitudes Survey
• Electric Scooters
• 89% awareness
• 62% know ‘a little’ or ‘hardly
anything’
• Knowledge lower among over
75s (47% vs 60% or more in
other age groups)
• 5% had used an e-scooter (fewer
than 0.5% regularly)
• Electric Bikes –
• 84% awareness
• 57% know ‘a little’ or ‘hardly
anything’
• Knowledge is lower among over
75s (52% vs 61% or in other age
groups)
• In June 2019 just 5% had used
an ebike (just 1% regularly)
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data
/file/847653/Summary_Report_of_Wave_4_of_the_Public_Attitudes_Tracker.pdf
49. So what can the government do?
• Electric Scooters
• Accelerate trial outcomes
• When, not if they become legal
• Prepare primary legislation ASAP
• Cycle to work extension
• Electric Bikes – EAPC
• Gear change vision
• Scrappage scheme
• Cycle to retirement
• Grants for businesses
50. Cycle to work
• Employer buys bike of your choice
• You hire it from employer
• Costs are deducted from gross pay, saving tax and NI
• Save between 32% and 42% (25% and 39% after fees)
• Monthly payments are deducted to meet the cost of the
bike
• At the end of the term, you get to keep the bike
51. Cycle to retirement
• Average income of retirees:
• £474/wk pensioner couples
• £216/wk single pensioners
• £320/wk all pensioners
• State pension = 57% of single pensioners’ gross income
• Incomes decline with age
• We’d like to see the government introduce a state pension
version of cycle to work: cycle to retirement
52. Q&A
Please submit your questions to panellists via the
Q&A tab
Join the conversation: @ilcuk
#LongevityDividend
53. Closing remarks from Chair
David Sinclair, Director, ILC
Join the conversation: @ilcuk
#LongevityDividend
54. Work with us
Business intelligence: we’ll give you advance notice of our latest research,
ad hoc briefings on areas of specific interest to your organisation, as well as a
discount on any research you commission from us.
Networks and connections: our Partners events have included visits to
Number 10, briefings with prominent influencers, as well as the opportunity to
meet ministers, policy experts and fellow Partners.
Brand benefits: as a Partner your brand will be visible through our numerous
events, press releases and presentations, and give you the opportunity to be
positioned at the heart of the debate on longevity.
For more information contact
Redvers Lee: redverslee@ilcuk.org.uk
55. Future of Ageing 2020:
Together for tomorrow – Delivering a
better society for all generations
Date: Thursday, 3 December 2020
Time: 9.00am (for 9.30am) - 5.30pm
Make the most of our early bird rate.
Register at: futureofageing.org.uk
Join the conversation: @ilcuk
#LongevityDividend
