To many people, crossing a road at a traffic light is a mundane task requiring little thought or effort. But for the growing population of senior citizens with limitations to their mobility, strength or balance, crossing the road can be a stressful and sometimes life-threatening experience.
Authors
- Max Western
Associate Professor of Behavioural Science, Co-Director, Centre for Motivation and Behaviour Change, University of Bath
- Afroditi Stathi
Professor of Physical Activity and Community Health, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham
The reason? Cities simply aren't designed for older people and others with restricted mobility - as our latest research demonstrates. We found that only 1.5% of the older people with reduced mobility in our study - just 17 out of 1,110 participants who had an average age of 77 - could cross the road faster than the 1.2 metres per second walking speed that is programmed into many UK pedestrian crossings .
They told us how "hurried", "rushed" and "unsafe" they felt being out and about in a city. All lived independently across seven English cities: Bristol, Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Manchester and Stoke.
Our latest study is part of our community-led active ageing programmes , designed to help adults over 65 with reduced mobility to improve their physical function . From the outset, we were struck by just how slowly many of the people we met walked. The task of trying to time them move four metres from a standing start with a stopwatch could be rather uncomfortable, such was the struggle of walking for some.
To test what this meant when they were faced with crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing, we made a simple comparison between the speed (1.2m/s) programmed into "standard" UK pedestrian crossings and the participants' normal walking speed. While their average speed was significantly slower at 0.77m/s, many of our participants with reduced mobility were much slower than that - meaning they had no chance of crossing the road safely within the time allowed.
In fact, the majority would have needed to walk nearly twice as fast as their comfortable walking speed to cross a road without significant risk.
Distribution of walking speeds of older adults with limited mobility:
As many of our participants told us, this mismatch between urban design and the capabilities of the growing ageing population can have catastrophic consequences .
First, there is a risk that a failure to take account of inadequate mobility in street features such as pedestrian crossings lowers confidence in older people for staying active and walking outdoors. This often leads to further reductions in physical function and greater social isolation.
Second, those who do keep walking around their local town or city can feel rushed. This places them at risk of a fall when they cross roads quicker than feels comfortable - made worse by wet or windy conditions.
A fall in older adults increases the likelihood of disability and the need for hospital care . It can have a significant impact on life expectancy .
How to make cities truly age-friendly
Pedestrian crossings are one of many features of towns and cities that can affect the physical activity of a mobility-limited older population. In reviewing determinants of physical activity in older adults , we found that the aesthetic quality of the environment, a reduction in noise and air pollution, and the availability of places to rest were all aspects that can lead to greater walkability.
The Centre for Urban Wellbeing has partnered with older adults and local communities and companies to explore how Birmingham, the UK's second-largest city, can better support its ageing population and move closer to becoming truly age-friendly.
Our research has highlighted the critical role of accessible infrastructure - well-maintained pavements, ramps, benches and public toilets make a big difference. Just as important are safe, welcoming spaces such as parks, gardens, and community hubs that encourage social connection and active living.
Much of our effort to improve quality of life in later years has centred on improving, or at least slowing the decline in, physical function and mobility. The benefits go beyond personal wellbeing: they translate into significant savings for the NHS and social care, largely through reduced hospital admissions.
But for these gains to last, older people need more than exercise programmes. They need safe, inviting communities that motivate them to get out and about. Walking to local destinations is one of the simplest ways to boost daily activity - yet it depends on environments that feel secure and accessible.
To be fair, there is some variability in the way pedestrian crossings work. Some wealthier districts have crossings with sensors that will hold traffic before a road is cleared of walkers.
Other use countdown timers to give some indication of how long a pedestrian has to cross, aiding a judgement on when to start their crossing of a road. But one thing that seems to be consistent is that green signals are programmed based on an assumed walking speed of 1.2 metres per second, which is clearly inappropriate for many people.
The onus should not rest on individuals with reduced mobility to keep pace in a fast-moving world. Rather, we urge cities to prioritise urban design that puts pedestrians first - creating environments that enable physical activity, especially among vulnerable groups.
When it comes to road crossings, simple measures such as extending green signal times at locations frequently used by older adults could make a big difference.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
