Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Walk and Be Seen – A Grassroots Seniors’ Project ( symposia )

2017; Elsevier BV; Volume: 7; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jth.2017.11.055

2214-1413

Sandra James, Sandra James, Lynn Shepard, Sabina Harpe, Dalia Margalit-Faircloth,

Traffic and Road Safety

We are part of the Westside Seniors Hub, an organization started in 2015 to identify and promote awareness of seniors' issues. Our Access and Mobility Committee of five members with part-time administrative support could realistically only handle a small volunteer project. Pedestrian safety was an issue worthy of attention given that a City of Vancouver study showed seniors experiencing the highest number of fatalities from collisions. During October to February, low-light, inclement weather conditions and limited visibility increase pedestrian vulnerability. We could clearly have little impact on road design, traffic speeds, driver behaviours, or vehicular safety features. However, we could focus on seniors' behaviours and elicit their help to increase awareness of pedestrians' invisibility to drivers when wearing dark clothing during winter months. We developed a pilot project, "Walk and Be Seen," to promote walking during low-light conditions while wearing reflective apparel. We researched pedestrian visibility locally and in other countries and developed an information sheet and public presentation with logo, posters, brochure, and registration form. Community police, Insurance Corporation, and other community partners joined in the project launch at a Neighbourhood Fall Fair. Participants (140) received free safety gear and committed to wearing it during low-light conditions for four months. A dozen presentations at seniors' gatherings emphasized the health benefits of walking and pedestrian visibility. Seniors registering for the project received a free reflective item (cloth sash or LED slapband). Online registrants (82) received weekly email bulletins with information updates, encouragement and prizes. Those who opted out of the online communication tallied walks on paper. Demand for reflective gear outstripped availability. Presentations provoked lively discussion and storytelling. Of 82 online participants, >50% logged their walks weekly. Many participants reported receiving positive comments about their visibility. Project spinoffs included knitting groups using reflective yarn, a seniors' café distributing additional reflective items, and informal connections to other community groups promoting safety. Reflective gear garnered enthusiasm for increased pedestrian visibility. Seniors can use pedestrian visibility to promote interest in other aspects of road safety – traffic calming, urban speed limits, driver behaviours, road design.