Florida Coalition CTST COMMUNITY TRAFFIC SAFETY TEAMS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

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3 CTST Florida Coalition COMMUNITY TRAFFIC SAFETY TEAMS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

4 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist What Is a Lifelong Community? You might be more familiar with a different term, such as age-friendly. aging in place, livable communities, complete streets, or even Communities for a Lifetime. However, they all share the same goal, to successfully prepare our communities so citizens of every age can enjoy and have safe access to all the different modes of transportation. A lifelong community means living in a community with some level of independence in a residence of your choice. This includes having access to services that are needed day to day, while maintaining your independence and quality of life. Transportation is a key component in a lifelong community and includes being able to get to and from the places you enjoy with or without a car. This checklist was developed by the Safe Mobility for Life Coalition to help you determine if a community has features and services that contribute to a rewarding, healthy, and active life, as you grow older, with a special focus on transportation. This is especially important to consider as you approach your retirement years or begin to experience personal mobility issues. By completing this checklist, you could learn how well a community meets your safety and mobility needs to help you successfully age in place. 4

5 Introduction How to use this checklist We have identified four (4) steps to help you determine how well a community meets your safety and mobility needs in the areas of Community Design, Getting Around, Street Safety and Security, and Neighborhood Support Services. We suggest that you complete this checklist for your current community or any other one you might consider moving to in the future. Step 1 Think about what is important for you to have in a community to help you remain independent, mobile, and active (i.e., walkable, access to transportation options, nearby shopping, restaurants, medical services, parks, museums, theaters, etc.). Then, write it down: Example: It is important for me to have a grocery store within walking distance to my house, and a dog friendly park nearby for exercise and meeting friends so I don t have to depend on a vehicle to get there. Step 2 Name the community you want to review: Palm Paradise (City/Community) (Zip) 5

6 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist Step 3 With the community from Step 2 in mind, we have identified specific statements in the following four (4) areas as they relate to a lifelong community: Community Design Offers a range of housing types at various levels of affordability. Welldesigned, shaded and lighted buildings, streets, sidewalks and bikeways invite a sense of safety and pride. Streets and civic spaces should be clean, comfortable, and inviting. Getting Around Provides safe and easy access to services, amenities, and support services, along with opportunities for healthy living. Offers a wide variety of transportation options for older adults at all levels of ability. Street Safety and Security Provides design features that support safety, access, and mobility. Welllit, hazard-free sidewalks and paths are essential to encourage walking, an active lifestyle, and minimize the risk of slips and falls. A high degree of connectivity boosts social interaction and walking. Neighborhood Support Services Encourages participation by providing a range of accessible and affordable activities, employment, and lifelong learning. Offers an adequate range of community, health, and home support services. Review the statements for each section and check, No, or Somewhat. If you are not sure what the answer is, use the resources in the back to help find some of the answers or talk to your friends and family. At the end of each section, total your score. 6

7 Introduction Step 4 Review the total number of responses for each, No, or Somewhat. Make notes on the things you learned about your community as it relates to your personal mobility needs to ensure you can remain active. Community Design Section: Getting Around Section: Street Safety and Security Section: Neighborhood and Support Services Section: Notes: Get name of real estate agent Number of stores with walking distance/off bus route Contact my local government to learn if they are a designated lifelong community Let s get started! 7

8 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist Step 1 What are your personal mobility needs for remaining active? Step 2 Name the Community you want to review: (City/Community) Step 3 Complete pages Step 4 Starts on page 24. (Zip) 8

9 9 Let s Get Started

10 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist Community Design A variety of community design features can impact your ability to age-in-place, including: A compact place that offers a range of housing options, where people live close proximity to shops & services, and to each other. 1. Alternative housing options are available, such as co-housing with others, secondary suites or Mother-in-Law Apartments, apartments above or attached to street level businesses. 2. Is designed to accommodate people and it is comfortable, convenient, and easy for me to walk, roll, bike, take the bus, or ride with a friend, to the places where I need/want to go. Well-designed, shaded and lighted buildings, streets, sidewalks and bikeways invite a sense of safety and pride. Good neighborhood design brings people together. 3. Grocery stores, pharmacies, medical offices, hospitals, schools, libraries, community centers, and places of worship are located near one another and close to my home. 10

11 Community Design 4. Parks, community gardens, or other green spaces are a short distance from my home. 5. Shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, theaters, schools, and fitness centers are a short distance from home or a short transit trip, bicycle ride, or ride service away. Streets and civic spaces should be clean, comfortable, and inviting. 6. When I walk, bike, or roll I can find shade, a bench or quiet place to rest, a clean public restroom, and water fountains. 7. There are signs that make it easy to find my way to destinations. Notes: 11

12 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist Getting Around Walking and bicycling are essential to maintaining an active, healthy lifestyle and are important means of travel, recreation, or for exercise. 1. Sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and shared-use paths are accessible and there are no gaps in connectivity. 2. I am able to get from my home to my destination with few barriers, such as busy driveways, steep climbs, crossing busy streets, or railroad tracks. Reliable local transit systems (bus or rail) are important to all towns, but are essential to lifelong communities where many residents choose to not own or drive cars. 3. Frequent service is available with many connecting routes, including connections to airports, commuter rail, ferries, etc. 4. The transit system provides easy to understand schedules and route maps. 5. There are accessible, comfortable, and safe stops offering shade and protection from the weather close to my home and destination. 12

13 Getting Around 6. The transit system is affordable and offers discounts for older adults. 7. Travel trainers are available to help me learn how to use the transit system. 8. The transit system takes me where I want to go in a reasonable amount of time. Services that improve the quality, availability, and affordability of transportation options for older adults at all levels of ability. 9. Accessible transportation options for individuals with disabilities, including mobility challenges, are available such as paratransit service (Dial-a-Ride). 10. A variety of convenient and affordable transportation options are available, such as shared autos (Zipcars), bike sharing, taxis, ridesharing (Uber, Lyft), and/or volunteer driver programs. 11. Services to improve driver safety, including courses and CarFit safety events, are available. 13

14 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist Compact, convenient, and safe parking improves access to destinations. 12. Convenient and affordable short-term parking is available near my home and destination. 13. Adequate space is available for unloading groceries or to be picked up by taxi, rideshare service, and/or shuttle. 14. On-street parking is available which makes it easier to get to shops or drop-off passengers. 15. Long-term parking spaces, lots, or garages are safe, convenient, and have sufficient lighting. 16. Parking fees are affordable and the parking systems are easy to use. 17. Bicycle and/or golf cart parking is available near my home and destination. 14

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16 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist Street Safety & Security Design features that support safety, access, and mobility. 1. Road signs have large, reflective letters and are easy to read. 2. Busy intersections have well-maintained, marked crosswalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian crossing signs and signals. 3. Places to cross the road are provided when intersections are too far apart or do not take me to my destination. 4. Crosswalks have sufficient lighting at night so that pedestrians can be seen by drivers. 5. Busy streets have shorter distances between crossings, refuge islands, and lower speeds. 6. There are countdown pedestrian signals in place on larger streets providing adequate pedestrian crossing times. 7. Marked bicycle lanes, shared use paths, and/or 4-foot shoulders are available. 16

17 Street Safety & Security Hazard-free sidewalks and shared use paths are essential to encourage walking/cycling, an active lifestyle, and minimize the risk of slips and falls. 8. Sidewalks and paths do not lead me past undesirable and unsafe locations, such as abandoned buildings, barbed wire fencing, or other unpleasant developments. 9. Sidewalks and paths are smooth, free of tripping hazards, free of objects and obstructions, and wide enough for safe and comfortable walking using a wheelchair or mobility device. 10. Sidewalks and paths are accessible and have curb-ramps at all corners. 17

18 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist A high degree of connectivity encourages social interaction and walking. Short block lengths result in more cross-streets, increasing walking route options to get to destinations and potentially slower vehicular speeds because vehicles have less distance to accelerate. 11. Streets are interconnected and have few dead-ends. 12. The distance between intersections is generally less than 600 feet (two football fields). 13. I do not have to travel far out of my way to change directions, to walk to my destination, get to a street crossing with a pedestrian signal, or explore new places. Personal security is not only a matter of protecting people from crime or personal harm, but also creating a safe environment where many people are out and about keeping an eye on everything. 14. The area is well lit at night. 15. There are no blind alleys or other hidden areas. 16. There are people out in the streets at most times of the day. 18

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20 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist Neighborhood Support Services Services that subsidize or improve access to adult care, prepared meals, and professional services are critically important to older adults. 1. Meal delivery and/or congregate meal sites are available. 2. There are adult day programs and/or caregiver support groups available. 3. Counseling is available for financial, insurance, or legal services. 4. Delivery services (e.g., of groceries, medicines, etc.) are available in the community. Services that improve the quality, availability, and affordability of housing for older adults at all levels of ability. 5. Affordable, accessible, and well-constructed housing is available with places where people of all ages can socialize. 6. Places where people of all ages can socialize are available. 20

21 Neighborhood Support Services Services that promote active lifestyles and improve access to affordable physical and mental health care. 7. Varieties of health care professionals are available. 8. Conveniently located health and social services are available. 9. Trips and activities to support healthy active lifestyles, such as nature walks, trips to local farmer s markets, and bike rides are available. 10. Exercise and education programs exist to promote physical and mental health. 21

22 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist Services that promote civic participation, social opportunities, employment, and lifelong learning help older adults lead more fulfilling and enriching lives. 11. Active senior centers, libraries, and community centers that offer a variety of cultural, recreational, social, and civic activities are available. 12. Free or low cost classes and activities are available. 13. There are opportunities for meaningful volunteering and/or paid work. 22

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24 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist Step 4 Now that you have finished the checklist, take a moment to summarize the results and think about what you learned about your community. Community Design Section: Getting Around Section: Street Safety and Security Section: Neighborhood and Support Services Section: TOTAL: 24

25 Results Summary Does the community you reviewed have more or less of the features and services that you will need to meet, and/or does it support the mobility needs you identified in Step 1 on page 8? If you checked YES, congratulations! You have learned that: (fill in community name here) could meet your mobility needs to ensure you remain independent, mobile, and active. If you checked SOMEWHAT or NO, don t worry! There are many resources starting on page 26 that will help you find a community that will meet your personal mobility needs. It is important to remember that no one community will meet all preferences and needs. Look back to Step 1 and remember what is important for you to have in a community, and use that in your decision-making. You can also visit our web site: SafeMobilityFL.com/AginginPlace.htm to get another copy of the checklist or to find a listing of communities in Florida that are committed to being age-friendly. 25

26 How to Choose Your Lifelong Community A Transportation Checklist RESOURCES 8-80 Cities AARP Age-Friendly Communities livable-communities/network-age-friendly-communities/info-2014/ member-list.html AARP Livability Index livabilityindex.aarp.org AARP Walkability Audit getting-around/info-2014/aarp-walk-audit-tool-kit.html Alert Today Alive Tomorrow Area Agency on Aging CarFit Safety Events DHSMV Driver Safety Courses FDOT Complete Streets 26

27 Resources Florida s Guide for Aging Drivers SafeMobilityFL.com/AgingRoadUser.htm#Guide Florida Find-a-Ride Healthy Aging in Parks initiatives/healthy-aging-in-parks Lifelong Communities: A Regional Guide to Growth and Longevity livable-communities/learn/planning-land-use/info / Lifelong-Communities-A-Regional-Guide-to-Growth-and-Longevity.html Metlife Foundation: City Leaders Institute on Aging in Place National Aging in Place Coalition Role of the Parks in Aging in Place the-role-of-parks-in-aging-in-place Smart Growth America 27

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