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We should be striving for a society where the elderly are just as capable of cycling as they are of driving. With electric motors assisting the subset of people

by djhn 6y ago

We should be striving for a society where the elderly are just as capable of cycling as they are of driving. With electric motors assisting the subset of people not able to do so while also not qualifying for a disabled mobility scooter should be rather small.

wolverine876 6y ago
While I am a strong advocate of biking, if my elderly relative falls, even once, it could be disastrous. In one elderly couple I know, they sustain permanent or serious injuries when they fall just walking, and they don't heal so fast or well. One slipped in the bathroom and broke their collarbone. The other slipped on the sidewalk and has permanently lost significant function in their left (dominant) hand. An injury that requires prolonged immobility, such as a broken hip, not uncommonly leads to death. No way are they riding a bike. Not only would they hit cement at bicycle speeds, they lack coordination, strength, and mental acuity. I have been in many situations on bikes that they simply couldn't handle. As one simple example, what happens if there is no curbcut or some other obstacle. I can simply lift by bicycle over any obstacle; they cannot always do that, and especially with the added weight of a battery, and then consider that a tricycle is the only feasible option for their balance.
- adrianN 6y ago
  If you're fit to drive a car, you're fit to ride an electric tricycle at least in mild weather. Obviously we need options for people who can't drive anymore, and frailer people in bad weather, too. But that doesn't mean that bicycles can't play a _much_ larger role in last mile transportation than they do today.
  - Noos 6y ago
    Really you aren't. My mother has knee issues, yet can still use a car fine. A bicycle would be ridiculous. You are not riding bicycles 60+ unless you are very healthy, and electric wont change that. This is just people who think their little fetishes work for everyone
    - adrianN 6y ago
      I have knee issues since I was 18. My doctor recommended riding my bicycle more. It helped. In any case the point is not the everybody is forced to ride a bicycle, but that everybody can safely and comfortably choose not to drive.
- bildung 6y ago
  > While I am a strong advocate of biking, if my elderly relative falls, even once, it could be disastrous. That can easily be a confusion of cause and effect. I have multiple 80+ neighbours and relative who ride a bike daily - which is what makes them fitter for events like falling in the first place. It's well researched that physical fitness both prevents accidents and reduces recovery times for the elderly.
- tokai 6y ago
  Just get them a tricycle.
babesh 6y ago
That isn’t the right characterization because there are many elderly who can neither drive nor ride a bike. They can however be passengers of public transportation or of cars. They may not want to ride on disabled mobility scooters either and those don’t seem to work well on hills or in inclement weather.

by djhn 6y ago

wolverine876 6y ago

While I am a strong advocate of biking, if my elderly relative falls, even once, it could be disastrous. In one elderly couple I know, they sustain permanent or serious injuries when they fall just walking, and they don't heal so fast or well. One slipped in the bathroom and broke their collarbone. The other slipped on the sidewalk and has permanently lost significant function in their left (dominant) hand. An injury that requires prolonged immobility, such as a broken hip, not uncommonly leads to death. No way are they riding a bike. Not only would they hit cement at bicycle speeds, they lack coordination, strength, and mental acuity. I have been in many situations on bikes that they simply couldn't handle. As one simple example, what happens if there is no curbcut or some other obstacle. I can simply lift by bicycle over any obstacle; they cannot always do that, and especially with the added weight of a battery, and then consider that a tricycle is the only feasible option for their balance.

adrianN 6y ago
If you're fit to drive a car, you're fit to ride an electric tricycle at least in mild weather. Obviously we need options for people who can't drive anymore, and frailer people in bad weather, too. But that doesn't mean that bicycles can't play a _much_ larger role in last mile transportation than they do today.
- Noos 6y ago
  Really you aren't. My mother has knee issues, yet can still use a car fine. A bicycle would be ridiculous. You are not riding bicycles 60+ unless you are very healthy, and electric wont change that. This is just people who think their little fetishes work for everyone
  - adrianN 6y ago
    I have knee issues since I was 18. My doctor recommended riding my bicycle more. It helped. In any case the point is not the everybody is forced to ride a bicycle, but that everybody can safely and comfortably choose not to drive.
bildung 6y ago
> While I am a strong advocate of biking, if my elderly relative falls, even once, it could be disastrous. That can easily be a confusion of cause and effect. I have multiple 80+ neighbours and relative who ride a bike daily - which is what makes them fitter for events like falling in the first place. It's well researched that physical fitness both prevents accidents and reduces recovery times for the elderly.
tokai 6y ago
Just get them a tricycle.

babesh 6y ago

That isn’t the right characterization because there are many elderly who can neither drive nor ride a bike. They can however be passengers of public transportation or of cars. They may not want to ride on disabled mobility scooters either and those don’t seem to work well on hills or in inclement weather.