The project aims to empower Metro Vancouver’s 55+ newcomer population by improving their capacity to navigate cities safely through public transportation. Transportation is a crucial determinant of health, enabling individuals to maintain independence and lead an active life. The project will provide workshops in multiple languages (English, Spanish, simplified Chinese and Farsi) and conduct hands-on excursions right after the workshop. This session will cover crucial topics such as safety tips, accident prevention, fall considerations and trip planning.
Our experience with our Senior On The Move (SOTM) program over the past 6 years, and in close collaboration with our Seniors Advisory Committee has highlighted the urgent need for these educational workshops within the community. This need arises from several factors:
- Transition from Driving: As seniors may need to cease driving at a certain age due to safety concerns for themselves and other road users, facilitating their shift from driving to utilizing public transportation becomes crucial for maintaining social connections and fully engaging in community life.
- Dependency on Public Transit: Seniors, particularly those from equity-deserving populations, heavily rely on public transit to navigate the city and to maintain community connections.
- Impairments in Motor and Sensory Functions: A significant number of seniors face challenges in motor and sensory functions, increasing the difficulty of using public transit. It is essential for them to become familiar with fall and injury prevention tips while using public transit.
- Lack of Familiarity with Public Transportation: Seniors who have been driving for an extended period, especially in car-centric cities, and those who have used different transportation systems may lack familiarity with using public transportation in Metro Vancouver and could benefit from a learning opportunity.
- Additional Barriers: Newcomer seniors face extra challenges like language and cultural differences; compounding with the difficulties associated with old age, which significantly make it harder for them to use public transit independently.
Our educational workshops and excursions will cover the following topics:
- Safe Urban Navigation: participants will learn how to safely navigate the urban environment, including the use of pedestrian infrastructure such as crosswalks, push buttons, and navigating driveways to access transit stations.
- Station and Terminal Navigation: Participants will gain skills in safely navigating through stations and terminals, focusing on accessibility tips and correctly identifying bay, bus, Seabus, or SkyTrain routes.
- Transit services for seniors: Participants will receive instructions on utilizing services tailored for seniors, including HandyDART, for enhanced mobility.
- Compass Card and Fare Information: Participants will access comprehensive information on purchasing and using Seniors Compass Cards, exploring senior discounts, and understanding fare zones.
- Trip Planning: Participants will be guided in planning safe trips, leveraging digital maps like Google Maps to check destination and accessibility features, consider travel during off-rush hours, explore companion travel, and manage emergency information.
By addressing these crucial aspects, our goal is to empower older adults from different language and cultural backgrounds to be able to use public transportation safely and confidently, enhancing their independence and strengthening their connection to the community.
Photo source: Unsplash. Photo is shown for illustration purposes only and may not be an accurate representation of the project.
Photo source: Unsplash. Photo is shown for illustration purposes only and may not be an accurate representation of the project.
