New York is ranked the 3rd in the nation for most pedestrian fatalities for people age 65+.
The ability to live independently in your own community becomes increasingly more important to many people as they get older. That old paradigm of retiring and moving to some place warm has changed for many New Yorkers. At least 90 percent of AARP members have expressed that they want to remain in their homes and community for as long as possible.
While that may sound easier than packing up and moving somewhere else, staying put can also pose a number of challenges. Some things that weren't as important before may take on more significance as you become older. For instance, you may now need to ask yourself:
- Can I walk on my sidewalks?
- Do I have enough time to get across the street?
- Are the crosswalks marked properly?
If your answer to any of these questions was no, then AARP needs your input!
AARP’s Create The Good will be hosting a massive, statewide initiative called Complete Streets Week from April 19th – 23rd. Create The Good volunteers will survey hundreds of streets and intersections in communities across the state and evaluate them for walker safety. Why not join us and survey an intersection in your neighborhood?
Why is Complete Streets important to you?
It may surprise you to know that New York ranks 3rd in the nation for pedestrian fatalities for people age 65+. A recent AARP report found that 2 in 5 Americans age 50+ say their neighborhood sidewalks are inadequate. Nearly half cannot cross main roads close to their home safely, preventing many from walking, cycling or taking the bus.
By 2025, people age 65+ will comprise nearly 20% of the population. Yet two-thirds of transportation planners and engineers say they have yet to begin addressing older people in their street planning. Complete streets policies direct transportation planners and engineers to design streets and roads with all people in mind including pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation users of all ages and abilities. To learn more, visit www.completestreets.org.
Here’s how you can get involved: Find a Complete Streets activity in your community. Go to Create the Good online and enter your zip code.
Can’t find a Complete Streets activity in your neighborhood? Why not organize one yourself? It’s simple to organize a Complete Streets activity in your own community:
- Register here to receive your information packet
- Identify an intersection or several in your neighborhood
- Choose a date to host your Complete Streets activity
- Visit Create the Goodonline to create your opportunity
- Click on Post an Opportunity to invite others to participate
- Include all the pertinent information so that members of your community can join
- Make sure to name your activity Complete Streets Week
- Click on DIY Toolkit to download the survey which you will need to complete the day of your activity
Special Note: If you are having technical difficulties viewing the Create The Good website, you may have to upgrade you internet browser to Internet explorer 7, or download the Firefox or Google Chrome web browsers.
For more information about Complete Streets Week or help organizing a Complete Streets activity, contact Marissa Kirshenbaum at (866) 227-7442 or by e-mail mkirshenbaum@aarp.org.
