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What kind of city would you like to grow old in?
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We all get a bit older every day and our needs and aspirations change. Young couples, families with children and older adults may want different environments and services. What type of city will cater for and promote the active participation of the whole community?
This online discussion forum has concluded. You can still browse the site but the discussion area will no longer accept new comments or votes.
Comment 1 12 Apr 2012, 5:24 PM
Mobility becomes a very limiting factor for older people, so well-maintained footpaths become essential. Also age friendly public transport. Trains do not work for the very old. They are not capable of getting on in time, of sitting down before a train moves off, and of getting off before the doors close. Buses and trams therefore need to be built to allow for the more frail to use them. Lower steps to get on and off become important, and drivers who are trained to be patient and friendly. In particular, patient enough to allow for elderly passengers to sit before they drive off, and to check carefully that everyone has alighted before they drive off again at bus/tram stops. This doesn't necessarily happen now.
I would also like to see less emphasis on large shopping centres and more on local shops where the elderly can walk to them, because once peak oil hits (very soon) petrol will be sky high and almost everyone will need to shop locally once more.
