Promote older adults active travel on neighborhood streets: an observation study in Daokou ancient town in China

Background and objectives Seeking to extend previous research on older adults’ active travel, this paper focused on the travel duration and neighborhood streets. With an emphasis on the older adults and streets in ancient towns, empirical data were collected in Daokou Ancient Town in China. The aim is to identify environmental attributes promoting active travel. Research design and methods Non-participant observation was conducted for six weekdays on three neighborhood streets. Twenty street factors were measured and classified into four categories in terms of active travel promotion. Focusing on older pedestrians, 871 cases of active travel were recorded. Two-level ANOVA tests were conducted to identify the differences in active travel duration by street, with significant personal or social variables in control. Results The duration of older adults’ active travel significantly varied by neighborhood street. Those who engaged in social interaction during active travel had longer travel durations. Among the healthy pedestrians in their 60s, for both females and males, irrespective of their social engagement, active travel durations were significantly longer on the streets with more age-and social-friendly features (p < = 0.01). The differences were no longer statistically significant in those aged 70 + or with health issues, whereas they spent more time staying on the streets. Discussion and implications Age- and social-friendly neighborhood streets contributed to longer durations of active travel in older adults. Social engagement played an important role in their active travel. Street affordances for both the physical and social attributes of active travel should be created. More research is needed for those aged 70 + or with health issues.