Age-friendly cities and active mobility: A thematic analysis based on immersive 360-degree video elicitation

Abstract

Public outdoor spaces in cities need renovation to accommodate new mobility forms and attend an ageing population. The quality of public spaces is rarely assessed, and when it is, it typically relies on post-occupancy methods that have marginal impact. Incorporating older adults' perceptions during the design phase to influence public space development is even less common. Digital technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) simulations, can provide innovative ways to engage older adults, understand their perceptions of public spaces and active mobility, and collect valuable data to guide design decisions and mitigate physical and safety risks. This study explores how older adults perceive different types of streets in Lisbon. Using spherical videos and Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs), participants over 60 years old experienced four distinct urban settings, simulating short afternoon walks in pedestrian areas. Data were collected through think-aloud and interview protocols and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings, structured into four main themes and twenty-five subthemes, offer a general representation of Lisbon's streetscapes, capturing key physical features and perceptions applicable across various street types. Supporting active mobility for traffic safety and sustainability, older adults highlighted the need for structural adjustments for inclusive accessibility. The quality of public space is associated with pavement materials, legibility, and separation of pedestrian and cycling areas through curbs, furniture, and trees, considered fundamental attributes for achieving appropriate streetscapes for multigenerational and inclusive spaces. This study demonstrated that immersive simulation media is feasible, inclusive, and engaging method for assessing perceptions, enabling older adults to contribute to the creation of dynamic, sustainable, and age-friendly cities.