AENEAS
Attaining ENergy Efficient mobility in an Ageing Society is a European project that aims at improving the attractiveness of sustainable transport and contribute to modal shifts towards energy-efficient modes of transport among older people.
Aeneas partners think that those who should benefit most from a reliable public transport system very often are unable to take full advantage because it is too complicate, not really accessible or too expensive. Therefore AENEAS places the emphasis on the training programmes for the elderly in partner cities.
AENEAS held a second workshop in 2009 in San Sebastian (Spain). The topic was “Walking and traffic safety in an ageing society”. Target groups of AENEAS training workshops are professionals from city mobility departments, public transport operators, representatives from NGOs working on the theme of sustainable transport.
Several key note speeches have been delivered notably on the thematic of the impact of ageing on walking abilities and the related safety issues outdoors from the INGEMA gerontology institute and the thematic of Inclusive design for outdoors environment (I’DGO). It has been acknowledged by researchers that a “supportive environment” with large and flat walk path, trees and benches every now and then are strong incentives for older people to go out and about.
The safety of older people’s mobility can be improved by encouraging them to use more public transport, and economic incentive such as reduced senior fares are important.
But reaching the next transport stop is a walking activity and it cannot be neglected that the accessibility, the maintenance and the quality of urban infrastructure have an impact on mobility behaviour. We have to remember that older people are the most vulnerable with regard to pedestrians fatalities. San Sebastian workshop was the opportunity to observe good lay-out of pedestrian facilities, large walking path, numerous benches to rest and good traffic crossing organisation. Some suggested improvements have been discussed among the group.
The newt workshop will take place in Munich on 4-5 March 2010 on the topic of “Multimodal marketing activity in an ageing society”. Last minute info: AENEAS project Partner ZGB and local public transport provider Stadbus are the winners of the Mobility Award in Salzburg (Austria).
For more: www.aeneas-project.eu