Content area
Full text
Introduction
The older adult population in the USA (65 years and over) will almost double in size in the next four decades according to the US Census (2014) Bureau as the baby-boom generation ages. This increase in the senior population is an important consideration for urban planners and those who make community service and infrastructure decisions, specifically those related to transportation. It is well recognised that the dominant form of transportation in the USA is the private automobile. The previous decades, known for their lack of investment in public transportation, coupled with sprawling development patterns, have resulted in an environment that challenges those who do not drive with mobility limitations. Seniors, specifically individuals over the age of 75, are traditionally less able to drive safely due to health conditions (Rosenbloom, 2001).
Alsnih and Hensher (2003) suggest that the essential travel needs of some older people today who are not driving can be met in a variety of ways that include: travelling with a spouse that drives, living with children or have children living nearby, possessing sufficient financial resources to purchase private services, being strongly involved in a religious institution which may provide transit, residing in living centres that provide transportation options, or being physically able to use public transit. In most American communities, alternative transportation options for non-drivers are limited to: fixed-route rail or bus service in urban areas, paratransit services (special transportation services for people with disabilities who cannot use regular public transit services), and private for-hire cars such as taxis.
However, it is worth recognising that in many cases, public transportation services are inadequate in suburban and rural areas, and available services may not meet the needs, preferences, and comfort levels of older adults. Older adults have difficulty walking to bus stops, getting on or off busses, and standing on moving vehicles, which limits their use of fixed-route systems. In addition, paratransit services, or on-demand transit (where you call the transit service to book your ride), experience funding limitations, ageing fleets, understaffing, a lack of technical support, limited standard assessments, and few practical modelling and planning practices (LaMondia and Bhat, 2010). These challenges restrict how well they serve their communities of rural, elderly, and disabled riders. Often, older adults face urban environments with...