Help Make Walking Safer and Easier for Older People
- by: Living Streets
- recipient: UK Party Leaders
Remaining active as we get older is vital to ensure we staying healthy and active, getting out to seeing family, and friends and maintaining our independence.
Yet for many older people getting around on foot can seem like an obstacle course. Valerie, aged 75, and her friend Maureen, 66, live in a village east of Rotherham in Yorkshire. The village has busy roads running through it, which can make getting around difficult.
Cars parked on pavements, speeding traffic and inadequate crossings can make local streets threatening, dangerous places that many older people prefer to avoid.
Right now, the political parties are drafting their manifestos in advance of May's General Election. If party leaders hear from enough of us, we can ensure safer, friendly streets for our active seniors.
Please sign our petition today and ask party leaders to include a commitment for an Active Travel Bill, so that older people can stay active and independent in later life.
Yet for many older people getting around on foot can seem like an obstacle course. Valerie, aged 75, and her friend Maureen, 66, live in a village east of Rotherham in Yorkshire. The village has busy roads running through it, which can make getting around difficult.
Cars parked on pavements, speeding traffic and inadequate crossings can make local streets threatening, dangerous places that many older people prefer to avoid.
Right now, the political parties are drafting their manifestos in advance of May's General Election. If party leaders hear from enough of us, we can ensure safer, friendly streets for our active seniors.
Please sign our petition today and ask party leaders to include a commitment for an Active Travel Bill, so that older people can stay active and independent in later life.
Dear Party Leaders,
I’m writing to you as you have an important say in the content of your party’s 2015 manifesto and would like to know whether it will seek to protect older pedestrians on foot.
As you know, older people are far more likely to vote and could be central to deciding the next election.
Keeping active as we get older is vital to staying healthy and active, getting out to see family and friends and maintaining independence. Yet for many older people getting around on foot can seem like an obstacle course. Cars parked on pavements, speeding traffic and inadequate crossings might be a nuisance or inconvenience for most of us, but for many older people it can make their local streets threatening, dangerous places they prefer to avoid.
For older people who trip or fall in the street, the longer term implications can have a major impact on independence. The most common serious consequence of falling is hip fracture, and half of people affected never return to their previous level of independence. Improving our streets is one way to reduce the risks of falls and the associated likelihood of a loss of independence and costs to the NHS and social care services.
I would like to see the next Government introduce simple measures that have impact on this serious problem.
[Your comments here]
Living Streets believe that an Active Travel Bill that focuses on making walking safer and easier could achieve this. By bringing together measures including reduced traffic speeds in built up areas, longer crossing times for pedestrians and prohibiting cars parked on pavement, we can make the streets safer and more easy to negotiate.
Will your party by the one to introduce these simple changes?
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionI’m writing to you as you have an important say in the content of your party’s 2015 manifesto and would like to know whether it will seek to protect older pedestrians on foot.
As you know, older people are far more likely to vote and could be central to deciding the next election.
Keeping active as we get older is vital to staying healthy and active, getting out to see family and friends and maintaining independence. Yet for many older people getting around on foot can seem like an obstacle course. Cars parked on pavements, speeding traffic and inadequate crossings might be a nuisance or inconvenience for most of us, but for many older people it can make their local streets threatening, dangerous places they prefer to avoid.
For older people who trip or fall in the street, the longer term implications can have a major impact on independence. The most common serious consequence of falling is hip fracture, and half of people affected never return to their previous level of independence. Improving our streets is one way to reduce the risks of falls and the associated likelihood of a loss of independence and costs to the NHS and social care services.
I would like to see the next Government introduce simple measures that have impact on this serious problem.
[Your comments here]
Living Streets believe that an Active Travel Bill that focuses on making walking safer and easier could achieve this. By bringing together measures including reduced traffic speeds in built up areas, longer crossing times for pedestrians and prohibiting cars parked on pavement, we can make the streets safer and more easy to negotiate.
Will your party by the one to introduce these simple changes?
Sincerely,
[Your name here]
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.
By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.
Having problems signing this? Let us know.