Urban mobility of the elderly. The role of vertical mobility structures for social participation: the case of the city of Covilhã

Abstract

The main objective was to carry out a study on the impact that vertical urban mobility infrastructures have on the daily life of older people living in slum neighborhoods. Data collection took place in April and May 2019, in the city of Covilhã, where there are accentuated topographic gaps and where there are four vertical urban mobility structures. The sample includes 109 subjects aged 65 and over, who answered a questionnaire prepared by the project’s researchers. The average age is 73,50 years, 53,2% has the 1st cycle education, 68,8% lives with their spouse or partner, 71,6% indicates that they have no mobility difficulties and 54,1% consider their health status to be “Normal” or “Good” (23,9%). 78% of respondents have lived in the current home / neighborhood for over 10 years, 11,9% have always lived in the same home / neighborhood and 90,8% said they would like to continue living in the same house / neighborhood. 53,2% use “Very” urban vertical mobility structures, and 64,8% use them at least three times a week. The overwhelming majority find these structures convenient and easily accessible, however, 79,8% changed or improved something in this structures. Still, 60,5% consider these structures “Good” or “Very Good”. Most respondents reveal that the use of vertical urban mobility structures allowed them to increase the frequency with which they use the public space, visit people or access services, contributing to improving their mobility, quality of life and social participation.