CHARACTERISTICS OF OLDER PEDESTRIANS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY CROSSING THESTREET

Objectives. This study examined the sociodemographic and health charac teristics and problems of older pedestrians. Methods. Interviews and a ssessments were conducted with 1249 enrollees aged 72 or older from th e New Haven, Conn, community of the Established Populations for Epidem iologic Studies of the Elderly who agreed to participate in a seventh follow-up. Results. Approximately 11% of the New Haven residents repor ted difficulty crossing the street. Older pedestrians needing help in one or more activities of dairy living were more than 10 times as like ly as others, and those with the slowest walking speeds were nearly 3 times as likely as others, to report difficulty crossing the street. F ewer than 1% of these pedestrians aged 72 or older had a normal walkin g speed sufficient to cross the street in the time typically allotted at signalized intersections (1.22 m/sec). Conclusions. Crossing times at signalized intersections in areas with large populations of elders should be extended, and the recommended walking speed for timing signa lized crossings should be modified to reflect the range of abilities a mong older pedestrians.