Abstract
Background
Pedestrian crossings in the UK require pedestrians to walk at least 1.2m/s to get across before the lights change. Forty-two % of adults ≥ 65 years have a degree of mobility impairment and for them, this assumption might be inappropriate. This study examined the average walking speed of a cohort of older adults at risk for mobility-related disability and identified the proportion who could walk at 1.2m/s.
Methods
Adults aged ≥65 years at risk for mobility-related disability (defined as scoring between 4 and 9 out of 12 on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)) participating in a multi-site, RCT, completed two, four-meter walks as part of their baseline assessment. The average walking speed for various sub-groups (defined by gender, age, SPPB score) were calculated and compared using ANOVA.
Results
A total of 768 participants [66% female; mean (SD) age=77.6(6.9)] walked at an average(95% confidence intervals) speed of 0.76m/s. Females were slower (0.75 (0.73-0.76) m/s) than males (0.78 (0.76-0.80) m/s) p=0.016. The average walking speed for both males and females decreased with age: 0.80 (0.78-0.82) m/s for 65-74 year olds (n=281); 0.75 (0.73-0.77) m/s for 75-84 year olds (n=346); and 0.71 (0.68-0.74) m/s for those 85+ years (n=141) (p=0.036). Frailty status was associated with walking speed, whereby those with an SPPB score of 4-7 (n=340) walked at 0.64 (0.63-0.66) m/s as compared to those with SPPB score of 8-9 (n=428) who walked at 0.85 (0.84-0.87) m/s (p=0.000). Only 11 (1.4%) of all participants would be able to cross at 1.2m/s.
Conclusions and Implications
The expected walking speed of 1.2m/s at pedestrian crossings is unfeasible for a cohort of older adults at risk of mobility-related disability. An upstream, national policy of increasing crossing times could contribute to more age- and mobility-friendly walking environments.
Pedestrian crossings in the UK require pedestrians to walk at least 1.2m/s to get across before the lights change. Forty-two % of adults ≥ 65 years have a degree of mobility impairment and for them, this assumption might be inappropriate. This study examined the average walking speed of a cohort of older adults at risk for mobility-related disability and identified the proportion who could walk at 1.2m/s.
Methods
Adults aged ≥65 years at risk for mobility-related disability (defined as scoring between 4 and 9 out of 12 on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)) participating in a multi-site, RCT, completed two, four-meter walks as part of their baseline assessment. The average walking speed for various sub-groups (defined by gender, age, SPPB score) were calculated and compared using ANOVA.
Results
A total of 768 participants [66% female; mean (SD) age=77.6(6.9)] walked at an average(95% confidence intervals) speed of 0.76m/s. Females were slower (0.75 (0.73-0.76) m/s) than males (0.78 (0.76-0.80) m/s) p=0.016. The average walking speed for both males and females decreased with age: 0.80 (0.78-0.82) m/s for 65-74 year olds (n=281); 0.75 (0.73-0.77) m/s for 75-84 year olds (n=346); and 0.71 (0.68-0.74) m/s for those 85+ years (n=141) (p=0.036). Frailty status was associated with walking speed, whereby those with an SPPB score of 4-7 (n=340) walked at 0.64 (0.63-0.66) m/s as compared to those with SPPB score of 8-9 (n=428) who walked at 0.85 (0.84-0.87) m/s (p=0.000). Only 11 (1.4%) of all participants would be able to cross at 1.2m/s.
Conclusions and Implications
The expected walking speed of 1.2m/s at pedestrian crossings is unfeasible for a cohort of older adults at risk of mobility-related disability. An upstream, national policy of increasing crossing times could contribute to more age- and mobility-friendly walking environments.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Unpublished - 2018 |
| Event | UKSBM 14th Annual Scientific Meeting - Birmingham 2018 - Duration: 12 Dec 2018 → 13 Dec 2018 |
Conference
| Conference | UKSBM 14th Annual Scientific Meeting - Birmingham 2018 |
|---|---|
| Period | 12/12/18 → 13/12/18 |
Cite this
Western, M., Withall, J., De Koning, J., Thompson, J. L., Greaves, C., Bollen, J., ... Stathi, A. (2018). Are pedestrian crossings in the UK fit for purpose? Comparing the current crossing times with the gait-speed of older adults at risk for mobility-related disability. Abstract from UKSBM 14th Annual Scientific Meeting - Birmingham 2018, .