Project

Evaluating and improving the bicycling skills of elderly bicyclists on e-bikes

Code
01P02420
Duration
01 October 2020 → 30 September 2023
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Other health sciences not elsewhere classified
Keywords
Cycling skills Older bicyclists Intervention
 
Project description

Cycling is a healthy way of transportation that offers the possibility to sustain an appropriate level of physical activity. With the introduction of the electrical assisted bicycle, the elderly start to cycle more frequently and for longer distances. This increase in bicycle usage, unfortunately, also yields a higher number of bicycling accidents, with especially the elderly at risk. The combination of increased speed, weight and unnatural pedalling assistance the e-bike introduces, as well as age-related declining physical and cognitive capabilities might affect accident liability, but have not been investigated yet. The first aim of this project will, therefore, attempt to document how senescence affects the capabilities of the elderly to cycle on an e-bike. Respecting this aim, cycling skills, hazard perception, visual functioning, executive functioning, physical mobility and motor coordination will be evaluated in healthy adults (18-54) and older adults of 55-59, 60-64 and 65+ years old. Given that the share of older e-bicyclists will continue to rise, the second goal of the current project is to develop an effective and reliable training, focussing on cycling skills and hazard perception. The training will consist of three sessions followed by a collective community ride to improve the transfer of the learned skills to real traffic situations.