Age-friendliness in Venice

The ENTOURAGE project is not just about cycling, nor just about Barcelona. Last week, we set sail to the City of Venice to set up the project’s case study about accessibility and age-friendliness there. Our first impressions of perhaps the most densely concentrated tourist city in Europe give a mixed picture about its liveability for older people. 

Cities’ age-friendliness is approached in many ways, from accessibility checklists to integrated policies that support ageing in place. The City of Venice is a peculiar place to study this concept, given the pervasive effects of mass tourism on housing, community life, and mobility in the city. 

Age-friendly City model (source: Age Friendly Manchester)

What stands out in Venice is the proximity of many urban functions that are important to older people’s quality of life. Shops and commercial activities are around the corner, there is a wide network of citizen associations, and its historic beauty make that city meets many of the Age-friendly City components defined by the World Health Organisation (see the flower image above).

At the same time, the relentless rise of touristic visits to the city in the last decades trickles down in every aspect of social life. It’s increasingly difficult to find housing, with much of the housing stock dedicated to short-term residence, which leads younger generations to flee the city to the mainland. Few people stay, indicated by the dramatic population loss from nearly 100,000 in the 1970s to under 50,000 in 2019. Those who stay tend to be older, lifelong Venetians, or are joined by temporary residents such as students and expatriates.

For the older Venetians, the disappearance of their neighbours and impossibility for their offspring to stay in Venice have made a dent into community life, participation and social inclusion. What’s more, the city’s particular layout with canals and narrow streets, coupled with the massive tourist presence on them, make it very difficult to move around. For all residents, but especially for those who require routes free of congestion and obstacles. Local amenities may be a small walk away, but are also under pressure due to the lower carrying capacity by the shrinking resident population. They convert to shops, bars, and restaurant catering to tourists’ needs and raise their prices to make maximum profit of this precarious market. Public transport is arranged by boats, but the canals are increasingly congested, polluted, and packed with tourist-related transport. 

How does pedestrian congestion look like? The Italian RAI recently made a time-lapse video near the train station that provides access to the mainland.

Accessibility measures on a bridge (author’s image)

What are we doing in Venice?

Over the course of October and November, we are doing walk-along interviews with Venetian residents to better understand the mobility issues and changes to the urban fabric of Venice. While for healthy ageing, it is essential to move around the city in an active way, walking is also problematic in an environment with traditionally-paved surfaces, bridges, steps, and crowded streets.

We invited local Venetians over 60 of different backgrounds to participate in our study, asking them about their everyday walks, experiences of walkability, and the changes to the city that have occurred over their lifecourse. Some remarkable first insights are the resilience that participants display when dealing with the presence of no less than 80,000 visitors per day (on average). They stay and fight to claim their spot in the city. Of course, locals shouldn’t have to fight to live their everyday life, and many of their counterparts have already left the city. As they get older, they are forced to adapt their lifestyles, avoid the crowds, and even abandon the idea of getting out of the house at their own convenience.

Together, these insights show how tourism compromises mobility and age-friendliness in a variety of ways. The Age-Friendly City concept provides a way to disentangle the city’s problems into eight elements that matter to an older person. When tourism and other global forces threaten locals’ access to community support, social and civic participation, housing, transportation, and housing, they erode the lifelines of older people.

We developed the Venice fieldwork with the social enterprise SerenDPT, who intend to retain people to the city’s historic centre and study the effects of tourism on the city’s labour market, housing, and mobility. One of their key activities in Venice is the SMARTDEST project, which addresses social imbalances in relation to the contemporary development of tourism mobilities, and co-creatively build solutions in the planning, regulatory or social innovation fields. 

More updates will follow. Can’t wait? Get in touch via our Contact Page.

A mig camí

El projecte ENTOURAGE està a la meitat del seu camí. Què hem fet fins ara? El divendres passat vam organitzar una sessió interactiva amb persones residents de major edat que van amb bicicleta per Barcelona, un esdeveniment il·lustratiu del que representa el projecte.

Imatge de la sessió (imatge del autor)

Ens ho vam passar en gran durant la sessió de feedback que va reflexionar sobre el treball de camp a Barcelona centrat en les experiències amb bici de persones majors de 60 anys. Gairebé la meitat dels 40 participants en la recerca es van unir per a parlar dels resultats inicials de l’estudi, compartir experiències i fins i tot van fer una passejada amb bicicleta junts 🙌🏽

Amb l’ajuda experta del Bicicleta Club de Catalunya, ens vam centrar en la qüestió de com perceben les persones majors de 60 anys l’ús de la bicicleta a Barcelona. Quines són les fortaleses i febleses de l’anar amb bici en l’edat avançada? 

Què hem fet?

Com a part del projecte ENTOURAGE, els últims mesos hem organitzat diverses activitats de recerca amb persones majors de 60 anys. Aquest grup de persones ocupa un lloc menys destacat en el coneixement de la mobilitat urbana activa (a peu, amb bicicleta). Al mateix temps, per a un envelliment positiu i saludable, és essencial que persones de totes les edats tinguin accés a aquestes maneres de moure’s per la ciutat.

Vam convidar a 40 persones majors de 60 a participar en el nostre estudi, amb l’objectiu de conèixer millor les experiències del seu ús de la bicicleta, els seus plaers i obstacles, i les diferents maneres d’utilitzar-la al llarg de la vida. Vam parlar amb usuaris de la bicicleta de tota la vida, amb persones que acaben d’aprendre a anar amb bicicleta, i amb persones amb experiència entremig. Per a avaluar conjuntament les històries i experiències que escoltàvem durant la recerca, vam convidar a tots els participants a un esdeveniment social i un taller en la tarda del divendres 23 de setembre. Vam fer una passejada amb bicicleta des de Sant Antoni cap a Sants amb un expert en recorreguts urbans que ens va portar al lloc de la reunió. Aquí vam celebrar una “sessió de feedback” interactiva per a parlar i interpretar els primers resultats de l’estudi.

Cartel de l’esdeveniment

Què vam descobrir?

La sessió va estar marcada per la paraula Compartir, tant per part de l’investigador com dels participants. L’investigador Wilbert va compartir les seves primeres impressions sobre l’amigabilitat de l’ús de la bicicleta i el disseny urbà de Barcelona, sobre la temporalitat del començar a usar la bicicleta – o continuar fent-ho –, i sobre els beneficis que la bicicleta aporta a la mobilitat i el benestar del conjunt dels participants. Els assistentes a la sessió van compartir els trams per anar amb bici que estimen i odien, i van realitzar una anàlisi DAFO al voltant de l’ús de la bicicleta en l’edat avançada.

Vam arribar a la conclusió que la participació de les persones d’edat avançada és clau per a un futur de la mobilitat urbana més sostenible. La seva aportació i visibilització poden fer-les servir d’exemple per a una mobilitat ciclista inclusiu en les pròximes generacions, tant dels majors com dels joves!

Imatge de la sessió (imatge del autor)

Continuem actualitzant aquest web. No podeu esperar? Posa’t en contacte a través de la nostra página de contacto.

A mitad de camino

El proyecto ENTOURAGE está a la mitad del camino. ¿Qué hemos hecho hasta ahora? El viernes pasado organizamos una sesión interactiva con personas residentes de mayor edad que van en bicicleta por Barcelona, un evento ilustrativo de lo que representa el proyecto.

Llegir a català / Read in English
Imagen de la sesión (imagen del autor)

Nos lo pasamos en grande durante la sesión de feedback que reflexionó sobre el trabajo de campo en Barcelona centrado en las experiencias en bici de personas mayores de 60 años. Casi la mitad de los 40 participantes en la investigación se unieron para hablar de los resultados iniciales del estudio, compartir experiencias e incluso dieron un paseo en bicicleta juntos. 🙌🏽

Con la ayuda experta del Bicicleta Club de Catalunya, nos centramos en la cuestión de cómo perciben las personas mayores de 60 años el uso de la bicicleta en Barcelona. ¿Cuáles son las fortalezas y debilidades del ir en bici en la edad avanzada? 

¿Qué hemos hecho?

Como parte del proyecto ENTOURAGE, los últimos meses hemos organizado varias actividades de investigación con personas mayores de 60 años. Este grupo de personas ocupa un lugar menos destacado en el conocimiento de la movilidad urbana activa (a pie, en bicicleta). Al mismo tiempo, para un envejecimiento positivo y saludable, es esencial que personas de todas las edades tengan acceso a estas formas de moverse por la ciudad.

Invitamos a 40 personas mayores de 60 a participar en nuestro estudio, con el objetivo de conocer mejor las experiencias de su uso de la bicicleta, los placeres y obstáculos, y las diferentes formas de utilizarla a lo largo de la vida. Hablamos con usuarios de la bicicleta de toda la vida, con personas que acaban de aprender a montar bicicleta, y con personas con experiencia entremedio. Para evaluar conjuntamente las historias y experiencias que escuchábamos durante la investigación, invitamos a todos los participantes a un evento social y un taller en la tarde del viernes 23 de septiembre. Dimos un paseo en bicicleta desde Sant Antoni hacia Sants con un experto en recorridos urbanos que nos llevó al lugar de la reunión. Aquí celebramos una “sesión de feedback” interactiva para hablar e interpretar los primeros resultados del estudio.

Cartel del evento

¿Qué descubrimos?

La sesión estuvo marcada por la palabra Compartir, tanto por parte del investigador como de los participantes. Wilbert compartió sus primeras impresiones sobre la amigabilidad del uso de la bicicleta y el diseño urbano de Barcelona, sobre la temporalidad del empezar a usar la bicicleta – o continuar haciéndolo –, y sobre los beneficios que la bicicleta aporta a la movilidad y el bienestar del conjunto de participantes. Los asistentes a la sesión compartieron los tramos que aman u odian para ir en bici, y realizaron un análisis DAFO del uso de la bicicleta en la edad avanzada.

Llegamos a la conclusión que la participación de las personas de edad avanzada es clave para un futuro de la movilidad urbana sostenible. Su aportación y visibilización pueden hacerles servir de ejemplo para una movilidad ciclista inclusivo en las próximas generaciones, ¡tanto de mayores como de jóvenes!

Imagen de la sesión (imagen del autor)

Seguimos actualizando este web. ¿No puedes esperar? Ponte en contacto a través de nuestra página de contacto.

Halfway there

The ENTOURAGE project is halfway! What have we done so far? The best illustration probably happened last Friday, when we organised a feedback session with older residents who cycle in Barcelona.

Leer en español  / Llegir a català
Feedback session snapshot (author’s image)

We had a blast during the feedback session that reflected on the fieldwork in Barcelona that focused on the cycling experiences of people over 60. Nearly half of the 40 research participants joined to talk about the study’s findings, to socialize, and even go on a bike ride together 🙌🏽

With the expert help of the Bicicleta Club de Catalunya, Catalonia’s cycling union, we focused on the question how people over 60 perceive cycling in Barcelona. What are the strengths and weaknesses of cycling in older age? 

What did we do?

Over the last months we organised various activities with people over 60 as part of the ENTOURAGE project. This group of people features less prominently in knowledge about active urban mobility (on foot, by bike). At the same time, for positive and healthy ageing, it is essential that people of all ages have access to these ways of moving around the city.

We invited 40 people to participate in our study, with the aim of better understanding the experiences of cycling, its pleasures and obstacles, and the different ways to use it throughout life. We talked to lifelong bike users, people who just learned to cycle, and people with experience in between. To celebrate the stories and experiences we heard, we’ve invited all participants for a social event and workshop in the evening of Friday 23 September. We went on a bike ride from Sant Antoni to Sants with an expert in urban tours to take us to the meeting venue. Here we held an informative “feedback session” to talk about and interpret the first results of the study.

Event flyer

What did we find?

The session was marked by the word Sharing, both from the side of the researcher and the participants. Wilbert shared his first insights about the cycle-friendliness of Barcelona’s urban design, about moments of opportunity to start or continue cycling, and about the benefits cycling brought for the mobility and wellbeing of the participant group as a whole. The participants shared which sections in the city they love or hate, and performed a SWOT analysis of cycling in older age.

We concluded that the involvement of people of older ages is very important for the future of urban mobility. Their consultation and visibilisation can set the example for inclusive cycling in coming generations, both old and young!

Feedback session snapshot (author’s image)

More updates will follow. Can’t wait? Get in touch via our Contact Page.

Cycling survey

Are you 60 years or older, and have you recently visited Barcelona? Let us know if you would consider cycling here. Have you done so? Let us know about your experience!

Do you want to read more about our study? Then this page is for you as well! Read here about our vision and objectives, and about your opportunities to participate.

Why participate?

At the Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona (Faculty of Tourism and Geography) we’re carrying out a research about sustainable mobility transformations in European tourist cities. We consult the views of Barcelona’s residents and visitors of 60 years and older, with the objective to improve the use of active travel options for people of all ages. Our main interest is in your experience when cycling in Barcelona and whether, in your opinion, it contributes to your feelings of health, wellbeing and satisfaction with the urban environment.

So share your experiences with us! It doesn’t matter if you have cycled during your stay or if you cycle in your home country. All views matter!

What will we do?

The research consists of two phases. First, we ask you to fill in a small survey about cycling in Barcelona and about your stay in the city. Second, and completely optionally, you are welcome to join a conversation about three things: 1) your experiences of cycling in Barcelona; 2) the modes of transport you have used throughout your life; 3) and your ideas about your mobility in future years. The conversation can be over coffee or lunch, during a guided tour through the city, or via a video call. If you have travel companions they are welcome to join!

Naturally, we will treat the data from these activities with the utmost security: see below for details about your anonymous participation and confidentiality.

When and where?

Take the survey, which will take about 5-7 minutes (Survey) or fill in the registration form to meet us for a conversation: https://forms.gle/36GxAcuHWZGHH1768. At your convenience, we can meet in person or via video call.

In application of the GDPR regulations, we inform you that the data provided will be included in the records of the ENTOURAGE project, carried out by the Department of Geography of the URV. You authorise the processing of your personal data to be sent information about the activities of the project. You will be presented with an information sheet and consent form to indicate your preferences. The data will not be transferred to third parties except in cases of legal obligation. You have the possibility of exercising your rights of access, rectification, cancellation and opposition of the data you provide, under the terms included in the current legislation, by writing to wilbert.denhoed@urv.cat.

Choose your preferred language to read more about the EN-TOUR-AGE project by clicking on a button below

Labour mobilities

August 2021 was not a regular summer month. My new job in Spain meant that I had the pleasure of moving from Rotterdam to Barcelona. In this day and age, traveling (far) is no longer an everyday task, but requires careful consideration of its environmental and health effects.

This is a re-post of a Linked-In story (September 2021)
Gare du Nord, Paris (author’s image)

We took the train

I will save you the details of how we got to the point of this move, and how we solved the logistical puzzle of concurrently vacating a flat and finding a new one in another country during COVID. We did it before, and yes it’s complicated. But there’s one thing we hadn’t done before. A new experience. And hopefully a glimpse into the new future of intra-continental travel. We took the train.

Why?

The estimated CO2 emissions from a one-way trip by plane from Amsterdam to Barcelona are around 190 kgs per person. By train, the amount is 19 kgs. Let that sink in for a second.

If all 1.5 million people flying between Amsterdam and Barcelona (in a pre-pandemic year) were to take the train, it would save a staggering 510 million kg of CO2-emissions. I.e. the yearly emissions of 20,000+ households. Let that sink in again.

With that knowledge, it would be impossible not to take the train. In the face of the climate emergency, it would be foolish to fly right? But is it realistic? Doesn’t the train take too long? Isn’t it uncomfortable?

Define travel time

First: the collective benefit of the decision to take the train is undeniable. You don’t shove the effects of climate change to future generations, or make use of the unjust competitive (tax) advantages for airline operators.

Second: let me share my experience of the personal benefit. Rotterdam > Paris > Barcelona took 11 hours. A lot? Let’s look at the (unsustainable) alternatives. To cover those 1470 kms by car would take you 15 hours. Add resting stops, petrol and toll costs, the car itself, and it seems a slightly mad undertaking in terms of time and costs. 15+ hours of driving likely means an overnight stay, too. The plane then. The flight is just two hours, right? Well really, Rotterdam > Schiphol > checks and waiting > flight > El Prat > Barcelona centre takes at least six hours, maybe more with check-in luggage.

But what really made the difference is what we did during those 11 hours. This is won time! I read a book, sat comfortable, texted friends about our move, got fresh coffee, saw the landscape, chatted to fellow passengers, and had lunch with an old friend on a Paris terrace. Bonus: our pet could easily travel with us.

Where now?

There’s probably a lot of academic and policy knowledge that fits this story, and there’s equally a lot to say about our apparent need to be hyper-mobile. One should always remain self-critical. We did take a plane when we went looking for housing, as we only had 4 days away from work. Plus, trains aren’t entirely CO2-neutral and cut through natural and built-up areas. But for now, this experience has shown us the road ahead when work, family, and social life are scattered around the continent. 

+2 for the critical mass!

Speeding past my hometown Dordrecht

PS. Many authors are way better at this and give actual examples of how to do and book these journeys. For example, take a look at the Man in Seat 61, the corporate travel policy of Erasmus University Rotterdam, or the train operator with a not-too-bad booking page.

Call for participation

Are you 60 years or older, and have you cycled during your visit to Barcelona? Do you want to read more about our study? Consult this page about its vision and objectives, and about your opportunities to participate.

Why participate?

At the Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona (Faculty of Tourism and Geography) we’re carrying out a research about sustainable mobility transformations in European tourist cities. We consult the views of Barcelona’s residents and visitors of 60 years and older, with the objective to improve the use of active travel options for people of all ages. Our main interest is in your experience when cycling in Barcelona and whether, in your opinion, it contributes to your feelings of health, wellbeing and satisfaction with the urban environment.

So share your experiences with us! It doesn’t matter if you are a frequent cyclist, just a beginner, or don’t use the bike as much as before. All views matter!

What will we do?

The research consists of three phases, two of which are optional in accordance to your possibilities and time restrictions. First, and for everyone, we will have a conversation about three things: 1) your experiences of cycling in Barcelona; 2) the modes of transport you have used throughout your life; 3) and your ideas about your mobility in future years. The conversation can be over coffee or lunch, during a guided bike tour through the city, or via a video call. If you have travel companions they are welcome to join!

After this first part, you are invited to participate in two exercises that record your mobility in the city. We will explain how to use your mobile phone to share geolocation data for inclusion in the study. In addition, we will record your daily mobility during a bicycle or walking tour, in which the researcher will join you during a journey of your choice. We will always give you the opportunity to comment on or explain the results obtained. Naturally, we will treat the data from these activities with the utmost security: see below for details about your anonymous participation and confidentiality.

When and where?

Contact the project coordinator by email (wilbert.denhoed@urv.cat) or fill in the registration form: https://forms.gle/36GxAcuHWZGHH1768. At your convenience, we can meet in person or via video call. If you cannot participate but would like to receive project updates, please fill in the form and indicate that you’re only subscribing to our mailing.

In application of the GDPR regulations, we inform you that the data provided will be included in the records of the ENTOURAGE project, carried out by the Department of Geography of the URV. You authorise the processing of your personal data to be sent information about the activities of the project. You will be presented with an information sheet and consent form to indicate your preferences. The data will not be transferred to third parties except in cases of legal obligation. You have the possibility of exercising your rights of access, rectification, cancellation and opposition of the data you provide, under the terms included in the current legislation, by writing to wilbert.denhoed@urv.cat.

Choose your preferred language to read more about the EN-TOUR-AGE project by clicking on a button below

Convocatoria

¿Tienes 60 años o más? ¿Te mueves en bici en Barcelona, lo has hecho, o te has planteado hacerlo? ¿Simplemente te interesa saber más? Consulta aquí sobre el estudio, sus objetivos y su visión.

¿Por qué?

Desde la Universitat Rovira i Virgili (Facultad de Turismo y Geografía) hacemos un estudio sobre las transformaciones de movilidad sostenibles en metrópolis europeas con atracción turística. Consultamos las perspectivas de la ciudadanía barcelonesa de 60 años o más, con el objetivo de mejorar el uso de la bicicleta y el espacio público para todas las edades. Nuestro principal interés es en tus experiencias con la bicicleta en Barcelona y en si su uso, en tu opinión, contribuye a la salud, el bienestar, y al ambiente urbano.

Si seas usuario/a de la bici de toda la vida, principiante, o hayas dejado de usar la bici, ¡comparte tu experiencia con nosotros!

¿Qué hacemos?

La investigación consiste en tres fases, dos de las cuales son optativas según tus posibilidades de comprometerte en el estudio. Primero, y para todos, tendremos una conversación sobre 1) tus experiencias de movilidad en ciclo en Barcelona; 2) los modos de transporte que has usado a lo largo de la vida y tu valoración sobre estos; y 3) tus ideas sobre tu movilidad en años futuros. Después, te invitaremos a participar en dos ejercicios que registren tu movilidad urbana en el día de hoy. Te explicaremos como usar el teléfono móvil para compartir los datos de geolocalización para incluirlos en el estudio. Además, tu movilidad diaria se registrará a través de un paseo en bicicleta o a pie, en el que el investigador se unirá a un viaje que sueles hacer en Barcelona. Siempre te daremos la oportunidad para comentar o explicar los resultados obtenidos. Desde luego, trataremos los datos provenientes de estas actividades con la máxima seguridad: ve abajo los detalles sobre su participación de forma anonimizada.

¿Cuándo y dónde?

Contacta al coordinador del proyecto por correo electrónico (wilbert.denhoed@urv.cat) o deja tus detalles en el formulario de inscripción: https://forms.gle/36GxAcuHWZGHH1768. A tu conveniencia, nos reunimos presencialmente o a través de una videollamada. Si no puedes participar pero sí quieres recibir actualizaciones sobre el proyecto, rellena el formulario e indica que sólo quieres inscribirte para el mailing.

En aplicación del Reglamento General de protección de datos de carácter personal, se informa que los datos facilitados serán incluidos en el fichero del proyecto ENTOURAGE, llevado por el Departamento de Geografía de la URV. Asimismo, antes de participar comprobaremos tu autorización del tratamiento de tus datos personales para el envío de información sobre las actividades que provienen de dicho proyecto. Te presentamos con una hoja de información que explica todos los detalles del estudio y su compromiso de proteger los datos personales. Los datos no se cederán a terceros salvo en los casos de una obligación legal. Existe la posibilidad de ejercer los derechos de acceso, rectificación, cancelación y oposición de los datos que suministras, en los términos incluidos en la legislación vigente, mediante correo escrito dirigido a wilbert.denhoed@urv.cat.

Elige tu idioma para leer más sobre el proyecto de investigación EN-TOUR-AGE y sus objetivos