Active and healthy ageing: Factors associated with bicycle use and frequency among older adults- A case study in Munich

Cities need to take action to adapt to the needs of older people and facilitate their independence, health, and well-being. Active mobility brings economic, social, environmental and health benefits. Cycling tends to decline with age, despite its potential to minimize dependency, social isolation, mobility problems, and sedentary lifestyles. There is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the factors associated with cycling among older people, which limits efforts to develop cycling initiatives for this population. Therefore, this study aims to assess the variables that influence cycling behaviour of adults and older adults. Taking Munich as a case study, we explored factors associated with the use and frequency of cycling using statistical tests and regression. Factors included neighbourhood's built environment characteristics (5D's), personal or individual level sociodemographic characteristics, and availability and usage of different transport modes from a national mobility survey (Mobilität in Deutschland, 2017, n = 11.430). Statistical differences were found between older and younger adults in the use and frequency of cycling. The neighbourhood's built environment had a greater influence on the cycling behaviour of older adults than younger adults. The results revealed that older people living in peripheral neighbourhoods were more likely to use the bicycle as a means of transport. Currently, these neighbourhoods have a higher percentage of green areas, lower intersection density and lower motorized traffic. In both age groups, higher income and education levels exhibited higher odds of cycling. Additionally, older adults who are occasional car and public transport users were more likely to cycle. Cities should ensure cycling opportunities for individuals of all ages, irrespective of their education level or economic status. To encourage cycling in older people, urban planning efforts should prioritize the creation of safe cycling infrastructure and the development of green spaces.