“Be a little bit reasonable and understand that sometimes some people can’t live your puritanical, cultish indulgence of either always walking or biking,” she said, arguing Furnas’ plans will hurt seniors and people with reduced mobility.
but that is 100% true. biking for a senior with 60+ years old can be life threatening. If they fall (and they do because they have a reduced sense of balance), they go to hospital, and laying in bed for 2 weeks leads to severe muscle dystrophy which often can hardly be restored.
In Amsterdam, seniors and those with disabilities can drive tiny cars (like the Japanese Kei cars, I think) on bike paths. They have the protection they need for their health issues, they go slow so their slowed reaction times aren’t a safety risk to themselves and others on a regular car road, and they have full access to groceries and medical appointments and social visits. Win-win.
In NL we’ve got mobility scooters for seniors and disabled people. They count as anything from pedestrian to scooter depending on the need. Doesn’t the US have these?
If there is somebody who can’t walk, can’t bike, and can’t take alternative transit options (eg, disability-supported shuttle, or plain buses) I do not see a car as a solution for them and would be worried about their driving cohesion.
The handicap argument has been tried against walkable city infrastructure for a long time. It’s a terrible dog whistle; the pressure to use a car to get everywhere is hurtful to the disabled as well as the rest of us.
but that is 100% true. biking for a senior with 60+ years old can be life threatening. If they fall (and they do because they have a reduced sense of balance), they go to hospital, and laying in bed for 2 weeks leads to severe muscle dystrophy which often can hardly be restored.
3 and 4 wheel bikes do exist. Driving for a senior 60+ is also life threatening, for them and others.
In Amsterdam, seniors and those with disabilities can drive tiny cars (like the Japanese Kei cars, I think) on bike paths. They have the protection they need for their health issues, they go slow so their slowed reaction times aren’t a safety risk to themselves and others on a regular car road, and they have full access to groceries and medical appointments and social visits. Win-win.
60 isn’t that old. My grandpa turned 85 and rides 50+ miles a week, he hasn’t fallen since he loves somewhere where cars can’t run him over.
Driving cars for a senior with 60+ years old can be life threatening too. If they crash, they end up in traction or perhaps even die.
Heck even walking can be life threatening, if they get hit by a car while crossing the street, they could die.
In NL we’ve got mobility scooters for seniors and disabled people. They count as anything from pedestrian to scooter depending on the need. Doesn’t the US have these?
I don’t know, I’m from the Netherlands too. I was just mirroring OPs argument.
If there is somebody who can’t walk, can’t bike, and can’t take alternative transit options (eg, disability-supported shuttle, or plain buses) I do not see a car as a solution for them and would be worried about their driving cohesion.
The handicap argument has been tried against walkable city infrastructure for a long time. It’s a terrible dog whistle; the pressure to use a car to get everywhere is hurtful to the disabled as well as the rest of us.
I know plenty of people who bike at 60+. If you’ve biked for years it’s no more dangerous than it is for anyone else.