Neighborhood walkability for older adults and their travel — Shanghai Anshan area case study

Abstract

As population ageing accelerates, safeguarding older adults’ mobility is vital to promoting their physical health, mental well-being, and social inclusion. Given their reliance on walking within neighbourhoods, walkability is a key factor influencing mobility behaviours. This study refines existing walkability index by incorporating empirical data on older adults’ travel characteristics, including walking speeds, gathered via surveys. Using Shanghai’s Anshan area—a community with a high proportion of older residents—as a case study, a fine-grained (50 m × 50 m) grid-based analysis was conducted. The modified index reveals spatial disparities in walkability and delineates essential travel patterns within a 15-minute community life circle. Findings inform practical recommendations for age-friendly neighbourhood renewal, offering valuable insights for policy adjustments in the context of rapid demographic ageing.