title: Snow and Rain Modify Neighbourhood Walkability for Older Adults.
abstract: The literature has documented a positive relationship between walkable built environments and outdoor mobility in older adults. Yet, surprisingly absent is any consideration of how weather conditions modify the impact of neighbourhood walkability. Using archived weather data linked to survey data collected from a sample of older adults in Vancouver, Canada, we found that car-dependent neighbourhoods (featuring longer block lengths, fewer intersections, and greater distance to amenities) became inaccessible in snow. Even older adults who lived in very walkable neighbourhoods walked to 25 per cent fewer destinations in snow. It is crucial to consider the impact of weather in the relationship between neighbourhood walkability and older adult mobility.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social Research,Department of Epidemiology,University of Michigan.
authors.forename: Philippa
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4925-2968
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.affiliation: Carolina Population Center,University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Jana A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social Research,University of Michigan.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Melendez
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences,Simon Fraser University.
authors.forename: Meghan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Winters
authors.affiliation: Centre for Hip Health and Mobility and Department of Family Practice,University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: Joanie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sims Gould
authors.affiliation: Centre for Hip Health and Mobility and Department of Family Practice,University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashe
authors.affiliation: Centre for Hip Health and Mobility,University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Furst
authors.affiliation: Centre for Hip Health and Mobility and Department of Family Practice,University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McKay
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001955:British Columbia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty; D011891:Rain; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012914:Snow; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: aging; marchabilité; mobility; mobilité; météo; neige; neighbourhood; quartier; snow; vieillissement; walkability; weather