Changes Afoot on the Streets of NYC

It is now easier than ever to get around! Did you know that New York City (NYC) was first to join the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Network of Age-friendly Cities?

According to WHO, members of the Network share “the desire and commitment to create physical and social urban environments that promote healthy and active ageing and a good quality of life for their older residents”. 1  “Right now, there are 1 million people over 65 living in NYC, and by 2030 this number is expected to increase by 50% -- the most rapid increase in history”.   The goal of Age-friendly NYC is to challenge “all sectors of the city to rethink aging and consider how best to serve and benefit from this growing population”.  2  
 
The following are a few improvements underway in NYC:

                                      

Photo by CityBench 3

• The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) is installing 1,500 comfortable, steel benches throughout the city, known as CityBench, with the goal of improving walkability and integrating public transit into the bustling fabric of everyday life. All New Yorkers are encouraged to recommend locations, which will be installed on a rolling basis by 2015. 4  You can request a bench at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pedestrians/citybench.shtml
  
• NYC offers wheelchair-accessible yellow taxis from Manhattan to anywhere in the five boroughs, call 311 or use the mobile app “Wheels on Wheels” WOW! http://www.accessibledispatch.com/ 
  
• If you’d rather drive yourself, Kenguru has plans to manufacture an electric vehicle with rear-opening gate for wheelchair users to roll into. Not yet available in the U.S., we expect good things from this innovative green machine.  http://www.kengurucars.com/
  
• Wheelmap.org is an online map to help you find wheelchair-accessible places, including restaurants and subways. http://wheelmap.org/en/
  
• Age-friendly NYC has a pilot program in East Harlem, the Upper West Side and Bedford-Stuyvesant. If you live in one of NYC’s Aging Improvement Districts, or would like to create one, check out: http://www.nyam.org/agefriendlynyc/initiatives/current/aging-improvement-districts.html

These are just a few resources to make the hustle & bustle of NYC easier to navigate. Your home should also be a comfortable refuge, adapted to suit your needs. For more information on Age-Friendly NYC, click here: http://www.nyam.org/agefriendlynyc/

ABOUT US

Lynne Funk, principal of LFA Architects, and Stacey Kmetyk, Certified Aging in Place Specialist and Feng Shui Practitioner, work together to solve spatial issues and improve accessibility in the home and workplace.

                                                             

Ms. Kmetyk and Ms. Funk bring their expertise and love of design to this specialty. If you or a loved one need help improving mobility, safety and access, give us a call. We are full of ideas and practical know-how to get the job done and to exceed your expectations.

For more information, please contact us at: LFAA@aol.com or 212-463-9519.

 

1. “Ageing and Life Course: WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities,” The World Health Organization, August 20, 2014. http://www.who.int/ageing/age_friendly_cities_network/en/

2. “Age-Friendly New York City: About Us,” The New York Academy of Medicine, August 20, 2014. http://www.nyam.org/agefriendlynyc/index.html

3. Laermer, Emily. “City program aims for 1,000 benches in 5 boroughs,” Crains New York. October 20, 2011. (Photo) http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20111020/REAL_ESTATE/111029991/city-program-aims-for-1000-benches-in-5-boroughs#

4. “NYC.gov, Pedestrians: CityBench,” New York City Department of Transportation, August 20, 2014. http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pedestrians/citybench.shtml