Abstract
This study investigates the movement patterns of the elderly, the silver movement and its economic potential in the central area of Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. As policy makers aim to make Wellington more walkable, numerous studies related to pedestrian movement have been conducted over the last fifteen years. However, these studies either emerge from an ergonomic point of view on place no focus on the elderly. In contrast, we view the silver movement as steady-growing economic potential for retailers and business owners, which has not caught enough attention by urban planners and researchers. The elderly often walk more slowly and within a much shorter distance than working-aged people and their routes are more likely related to leisure activities rather than work-related. Hence, they might prefer different walking paths in the CBD. We use two main research methods, including direct observation, pedestrian counting, and interviewing older pedestrians. While direct observation informs the volume and patterns of the movements of the elderly, interviewing method provides insights about factors that determine their route selection mechanism. Our findings suggest that elderly walking areas are much more limited and concentrated than that of the mainstream. Silver pedestrian flows not only have different spatial but also different temporal patterns. Businesses and retailers that primarily accommodate the elderly should be aware of these differences to avoid failure. We also suggest a list of features that support and encourage silver movement in the CBD.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Economic and Demographic Perspectives on Aging
KEYWORDS
Pedestrian Movement Economy
