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Laramie, WY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Micromobility enhancements/management

Description: For many older adults in Wyoming, getting outdoors felt out of reach-until a new trishaw rolled into town. Miles of Smiles purchased an electric-assisted trishaw, trained volunteer pilots age 50-plus and began offering rides at local facilities. The experience quickly became a highlight, with passengers scheduling weeks ahead and volunteers calling it "extremely rewarding." One 96-year-old, non-verbal for months, exclaimed "Great fun!" after her first ride. The program is breaking isolation, sparking joy and proving that fresh air and human connection can transform lives.

Atlanta, GA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: Micromobility enhancements/management

Description: Sidewalk clutter from dockless scooters and bikes and illegal parking near crosswalks made walking hazardous, especially for older adults. To improve safety, the Department of Transportation installed 10 micromobility corrals in busy districts, using quick-build materials like flexposts, curbstops and bike racks. Many corrals doubled as daylighting measures, clearing sightlines and reducing illegal parking. The changes organized shared devices, freed sidewalks and made crossings safer, giving older adults more confidence to navigate city streets. The effort also sparked demand for more corrals and partnerships to expand the network citywide.

Pittsburgh, PA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023

Project Category: Micromobility enhancements/management

Description: Pittsburgh's bikeshare lacked options for older adults and riders with disabilities, limiting access to cycling. To close that gap, Bike Share Pittsburgh launched Adaptive POGOH, introducing seven specialized bikes including tricycles, tandem and recumbent models. A secure storage hub was installed at a trailhead, staff were trained to customize bikes and promotional materials were provided to centers for older adults. A kickoff event drew more than 250 attendees. Early rentals and strong interest signaled demand, positioning the program for expansion and creating new opportunities for inclusive mobility and outdoor recreation.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Honolulu, HI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places

Description: The Age-Friendly Honolulu initiative launched Kind2Kupuna, a public awareness campaign to help shops, restaurants, health care providers and other public-facing businesses better serve older adults. While preparing the campaign, Age-Friendly Honolulu found the most common complaints kupuna had about shopping were difficulties reaching items on shelves, poor customer service and employees failing to smile or not making eye contact. To address these issues, they created a poster featuring ten culturally appropriate tips, including start with aloha, be mindful of memory loss, step into their shoes and make it readable. "A workforce that is more aware and equipped to accommodate physical and cognitive changes with age will be better able to support older adults in many ways, both big and small," Hawaii Pacific University Vice President Sam Moku said.

Honolulu, HI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Engaging residents alongside thought leaders in problem solving

Description: An interactive exhibit at Children and Youth Day events educated young people about the importance of age-friendly cities. The event, held annually at the state capitol building, attracts 40,000 attendees each year. Students from a local high school created the virtual reality experience using the popular Minecraft video game. The virtual video presents a simulated tour of an age-friendly neighborhood. The student designers based the experience on a World Youth Congress workshop, where delegates conducted a walk audit of Honolulu's Chinatown. After donning their virtual reality goggles, Youth Day participants took a survey on age-friendly communities. In the years since, Age-Friendly Honolulu has continued to conduct walk audits and engage schools and youth groups in its advocacy work.

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