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The Disabling City: Older Persons Walking in Central Neighbourhoods of Santiago de Chile

Author

Listed:
  • Marie Geraldine Herrmann-Lunecke

    (Departamento de Urbanismo, Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad de Chile, Portugal 84, Santiago 8331051, Chile)

  • Cristhian Figueroa-Martínez

    (Centro de Desarrollo Urbano Sustentable (CEDEUS), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Los Navegantes 1963, Providencia, Santiago 7520246, Chile)

  • Francisca Parra Huerta

    (Departamento de Urbanismo, Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad de Chile, Portugal 84, Santiago 8331051, Chile)

  • Rodrigo Mora

    (Departamento de Urbanismo, Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad de Chile, Portugal 84, Santiago 8331051, Chile
    Centro de Desarrollo Urbano Sustentable (CEDEUS), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Los Navegantes 1963, Providencia, Santiago 7520246, Chile)

Abstract

Walking reports numerous benefits for older persons, yet its practice can be hindered by the built environment. This article seeks to understand how and why certain elements of the built environment facilitate or impede the everyday trips older persons complete on foot. It reports the findings of a set of walking interviews conducted in four central neighbourhoods of Santiago de Chile, where forty older persons were invited to walk and talk about the trips they complete on foot and the aspects that facilitate or hinder them. The findings reveal that older persons are aware of the benefits of walking and travel regularly on foot despite the barriers they find in their neighbourhoods. The presence/absence of greenery, the conditions of the facades and the level of cleanliness of the streets affect older persons’ walking experience and can increase/diminish their willingness to walk. Damaged and poorly designed pedestrian infrastructure can cause fear, provoke accidents and become serious hazards. Older persons develop strategies to overcome these barriers, yet the data suggest that they see Santiago as a “disabling city” because it has obstacles that could be unsurmountable in a near future if an illness or an accident diminishes their abilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Marie Geraldine Herrmann-Lunecke & Cristhian Figueroa-Martínez & Francisca Parra Huerta & Rodrigo Mora, 2022. "The Disabling City: Older Persons Walking in Central Neighbourhoods of Santiago de Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:11085-:d:907205
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Arlie Adkins & Carrie Makarewicz & Michele Scanze & Maia Ingram & Gretchen Luhr, 2017. "Contextualizing Walkability: Do Relationships Between Built Environments and Walking Vary by Socioeconomic Context?," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 83(3), pages 296-314, July.
    2. Reid Ewing & Robert Cervero, 2010. "Travel and the Built Environment," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 76(3), pages 265-294.
    3. Grazia Salvo & Bonnie M. Lashewicz & Patricia K. Doyle-Baker & Gavin R. McCormack, 2018. "Neighbourhood Built Environment Influences on Physical Activity among Adults: A Systematized Review of Qualitative Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Ottoni, Callista A. & Sims-Gould, Joanie & Winters, Meghan & Heijnen, Myrthe & McKay, Heather A., 2016. "“Benches become like porches”: Built and social environment influences on older adults’ experiences of mobility and well-being," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 33-41.
    5. Metz, D. H., 2000. "Mobility of older people and their quality of life," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 149-152, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Giovanni Vecchio & Bryan Castillo & Rodrigo Villegas & Carolina Rojas Quezada & Stefan Steiniger & Juan Antonio Carrasco, 2023. "Elderly Walking Access to Street Markets in Chile: An Asset for Food Security in an Unequal Country," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-18, February.

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