Providence, RI

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety

Description: To introduce older adult residents to ridehailing options, the Rhode Island College Foundation launched a workshop titled It's Uber Easy to Get a Lyft. More than 70 older adults from seven towns attended the workshops, which taught them how to download a smartphone app to hail rides. A majority of participants reported they gained confidence using the services following the training. Organizers hope this helps older adults retain mobility, even when they no longer feel comfortable driving themselves.

Salt Lake City, UT

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017

Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety

Description: The Transit Together initiative invited residents at two low-income, older adult communities to use public transit to get to the grocery store. Over the course of three weeks, project organizers assisted groups of older adults -- including those with mobility issues -- as they navigated the Trax light rail system's routes and fare collection system. To help them run errands via transit, the County Aging and Adult Services office offered each participant a grocery caddy and a monthly senior transit pass. At the end of the program, 22 out of 32 participants reported they would use public transit in the future. In addition, several volunteer-resident pairs planned to continue making grocery trips together. Project organizers report that other service providers throughout Utah have since reached out to find out how they can implement similar educational programs in their communities.

Seattle, WA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Engaging people in transportation options/safety

Description: Many parts of North Seattle lack sidewalk and bicycle infrastructure. To address this, Seattle Neighborhood Greenways launched its Home Zone initiative in the Licton Springs neighborhood. To collect community feedback on walkability, the organization connected with local leaders and conducted door-to-door surveys and walk audits. They also invited homeowners, renters, business owners, older adults and residents with disabilities to participate in a community design workshop. The engagement efforts resulted in a plan for wayfinding signs, traffic calming planter boxes and street murals. Since launching the effort, the City has allocated funding to conduct similar pilots in two other Seattle neighborhoods.