On the complexity of finishing a crossing on time: Elderly pedestrians, timing and cycling infrastructure

Aging population and reductions in car use by seniors have the potential to increase active transportation rates. While there are associated health benefits to this potential shift, there are also higher risks for elderly pedestrian injuries, especially at street crossings. This naturalistic study compares street crossing behaviors of different population age groups in large Québec cities through observational data, situational characteristics and environmental characteristics of location. We assess if observed crossings could be completed safely within the allocated time. Street crossing observations on 2073 pedestrians was gathered at 135 signalized crossings during a four-month period in the summer of 2013. Mixed effect logit models are used to assess the individual, contextual, behavioral and environmental correlates of street crossing ending. Differences in age groups and other correlates are assessed for their association with the type of street crossing ending (on red light, on red hand or on both). In multivariate models, older age did not have an impact on finishing crossing on time, but many factors associated with older age were: having a walking aid, hesitating, and slowing down mid-crossing. Longer “white man silhouette” timing was also associated with reduced odds ratio of failing to finish crossing on time. The presence of cycling infrastructure increased those odds. Without walking, many elders will experience decreasing level of access. In neighborhoods with high concentrations of elderly populations, providing shorten crossing distance or longer crossing timing, may increase the convenience of walking for elderly populations. Longer signal timing may also be warranted in locations where cycling infrastructures were added to account for the increased level of difficulty.