Equitable Mobility - Appropriate Active Travel Facilities for the Aging Population

Abstract To help achieve current European Road Infrastructure Management Directive (RISM) targets and Vision Zero, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has set an objective to reduce the risk and number of collisions, injuries, and deaths on Ireland’s road infrastructure. In Ireland the population has been getting steadily older since the 1980s and the 65 years and over cohort is represented as a high percentage of overall recorded collisions on the Irish Road Network. Active travel has been highlighted as a priority by many recent policy and strategy documents including the recently published National Strategic Mobility Policy (2022) and the Climate Action Plan (2023). In May 2022 TII launched the National Cycle Network Plan (NCN) which focuses on linking cities and towns of over 5,000 people with a safe, connected and inviting cycle network. It includes plans to create cycle routes to destinations such as transport hubs, centres of education, centres of employment, leisure, and tourist destinations. Where possible, it will optimise the potential for people to cycle as part of their daily activities. This research will provide clear conclusions and recommendations to inform national standards and the required changes to policy documents were required to ensure equitable mobility for Irelands aging population.