Joy, Exercise, Enjoyment, Getting out: A Qualitative Study of Older People's Experience of Cycling in Sydney, Australia

Introduction. Cycling can be an enjoyable way to meet physical activity recommendations and is suitable for older people; however cycling participation by older Australians is low. This qualitative study explored motivators, enablers, and barriers to cycling among older people through an age-targeted cycling promotion program. Methods. Seventeen adults who aged 50–75 years participated in a 12-week cycling promotion program which included a cycling skills course, mentor, and resource pack. Semistructured interviews at the beginning and end of the program explored motivators, enablers, and barriers to cycling. Results. Fitness and recreation were the primary motivators for cycling. The biggest barrier was fear of cars and traffic, and the cycling skills course was the most important enabler for improving participants’ confidence. Reported outcomes from cycling included improved quality of life (better mental health, social benefit, and empowerment) and improved physical health. Conclusions. A simple cycling program increased cycling participation among older people. This work confirms the importance of improving confidence in this age group through a skills course, mentors, and maps and highlights additional strategies for promoting cycling, such as ongoing improvement to infrastructure and advertising. 1. Introduction Maintaining the health of Australia’s ageing population is a priority for governments and healthcare providers, not only to improve quality of life but also to minimise the burden of ill health on existing resources [1]. Ensuring that older people get the recommended amount of daily physical activity is a key way to improve and maintain health in this important group. Just 40% of Australian adults who aged 55–74 years achieve the recommended amount of physical activity each week, and after 75 years, the proportion falls to 24% [2]; however identifying physical activities that are enjoyable and accessible for older people can be challenging. Many older adults prefer to exercise alone or with others of their own age [3], and more than half of older Australians undertake their physical activity in unstructured forms such as walking to local shops [4]. Barriers to exercise for older people can include cost, time, and difficulty, travelling to group programs [5]. Cycling is a form of physical activity with particular benefits for older people. It is nonweight bearing and therefore has less impact on the joints than jogging or other running sports [6], and several longitudinal epidemiological studies have shown significant risk reduction for