Retiring from Driving: A Kinder Way to Give Up the Keys?

Written by Judy Bortman

Part 1 of 2.

My uncle is 87 and still driving. It's a scary thought for his well-being and for those he may encounter on the road. Like many seniors he's downsized and lives in an independent living community. Driving remains a necessity because there are few transit options. Shops and services are nearby, but on a busy road. How long can he safely drive even a short distance? When will it be time to "give up the keys?"

Just as we experienced normal body changes during puberty, aging has its own set of unique changes. Slower reflexes, vision adjustments (longer to focus and adjust to light), diminished hearing and memory lapses.

This leads me to question whether my uncle or any advanced senior is really fit to drive. How do you measure behind the wheel "fitness?" Physical strength, mental alertness, flexibility, visual clarity and rapid reaction times are all required. At some point, family or friends will need to have a heartfelt discussion about when, where and how often a senior can drive safely and what driving limitations are necessary to accommodate aging. Is it time to "give up the keys?"

Some changes to driving habits seem obvious. Say good-by to E-Z pass, only drive during the day, in non-peak times and near home. My uncle has made these adjustments and we’ve discussed the "limited range" of his driving, but I still worry. We're inching closer to the time when he'll need to relinquish the keys altogether. For now that benchmark remains on the horizon but it’s getting closer with each birthday.

According to a new survey released by Liberty Mutual Insurance, the majority of senior drivers are behind the wheel regularly, even those with limited physical abilities. While many seniors are safe drivers, the time will come when they, too, have to confront the reality that it’s time to limit or stop their driving.  

"'Giving up the keys' isn't being addressed by a majority of seniors or their children."

"Only 6 percent of seniors have spoken with someone, typically their children or a doctor, about their driving ability."

-Liberty Mutual Insurance Survey

8,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 every day.

Seniors fear losing their independence, becoming less active, having difficulty finding alternative transportation and feeling isolated. The Liberty Mutual survey revealed that more than half of children with senior parents were concerned about their parents' driving abilities yet nearly one-third avoided initiating the conversation.

According to AARP, members of the Baby Boom generation will be turning 65 at a rate of 8,000 per day until 2030. Soon, one in four drivers will be over 65.

If there's a senior driver in your family, it's never too soon to start the dialogue about giving up the keys. Helpful videos from The Alzheimer’s Association and Liberty Mutual provide specific suggestions of what to say and may help you ease into the conversation.

To my surprise my uncle was more receptive to talking about giving up the keys than I had expected.  If there's a senior driver in your life, start the "tough love" conversation. Don't wait until it’s too late!

Why Biking To Work Is Kid-Friendly

Written by Laura Cerutti

Part 2 of 2. Read part 1 here.

Last week we talked about making biking to work with a child more convenient and less difficult, but we understand that there are some safety concerns when it comes to riding with your little ones. After all, it is your natural instinct as a parent to protect your kids. One of the of the dads from the Bike to Work Challenge recommends going slow, making sure your bike is in working order, and ensuring that all of the connections to your child's ride-along apparatus are tight and secure. It is also imperative that your child is wearing a properly-fitted helmet at all times! Now that you know why you should bike to work with your kids, here's how you can get started:

Get the right equipment

Before they are old enough to ride confidently on their own, there are plenty of options for bike seats, trailers and cargo bikes to tow your little one.

REI ($299)

REI (179.95)

The dads from the Bike to Work Challenge both chose to use trailers. One father made arrangements to leave his daughter's bike trailer at her school before continuing his 10 mile trip to work. He then swings by the school to pick up the empty trailer on his ride home. He later informed us that he eventually ungraded to a Weehoo igo trailer that allows his daughter to become an active rider and pedal along with him to propel them forward.

If you have multiple kids, you don't have to pick favorites on who gets to ride with you! It is possible to attach multiple kids to one bike, just check out how this mom from Portland rides with six kids. (Yes! You read that correctly. Six kids, one bike!).

Six kids is no deterrent for this Portland mom.

Plan your route

On a weekend or a day off, ride alone to your child’s school and then ride by work. Time yourself and take note of bike lanes and hazardous intersections. After you are comfortable with your ride, bring your son or daughter along so they can get also get used to the ride and you can get used to them being hitched up to your bike. Once you are both comfortable, get ready to bike to school and work together!

Why Biking To Work Is Kid-Friendly

Written by Laura Cerutti
Part 1 of 2 

Most of us know the countless benefits of biking to work. It is known to relieve stress, elevate mood, and increase work productivity. It is also a major money saver and healthier alternative (for you and the environment) to sitting alone in traffic. Riding to work doesn’t have to stop, or fail to start, because you have a family or young children to take to school. If we know commuting by bike is good for us, why not instill these benefits in our children and take them along as we ride to work?

When confronted with the idea of riding a bike to work and bringing the kids along, most parents jump to the conclusion that it is inconvenient, unsafe and way too difficult. When reaching out to riders for our annual Bike to Work Challenge, we often met interested parents who would love to ride to the office but declined to register, feeling it would be near impossible to get their kids to school and make it to work on time.

This year's Bike to Work Challenge turned out to be a milestone year for TransOptions in many ways, but one of the most significant accomplishment came from two dads who submitted photos of them biking to work with their son and daughter.

These parents showed us that with the right equipment, some preparation, and the right attitude, having your kids ride along with you to work is actually teaching them a valuable lesson. Not only are you spending quality time with them outside the car, but you are also teaching them the importance of a gasoline-free, healthy, and inexpensive way to get to around.

The most important thing you need to do as a bike riding parent, is set a good example by riding responsibly. Studies on teen driving show that your kids start learning how to drive when they are in the car seat. Kids are like sponges, they observe everything, take it all in, and mimic what mom and dad do. If you are an aggressive driver that forgets turn signals, speeds, or talks on the phone while driving, chances are your kids will grow up to display the same unsafe behaviors behind the wheel. 

The same goes for bike riding. While your kids are hitched on to your bicycle, they are watching your every move. Obeying traffic laws, scanning for safety, using proper hand signals, and being friendly to drivers and pedestrians will shape your children’s future bicycling habits. Teaching your kids the valuable lesson of sharing the road will carry over to when they are ready to ride to school on their own, or even better, as adults riding to work.

Check back next Monday for Part 2. We'll show you how you can get started on sharing your bike to work trip with your kids.