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Title:

A Need to Improve Demand Response Services for Mobility of Seniors

Accession Number:

01154315

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

Transportation Research Board Business Office

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Abstract:

Demographic projections indicate that the proportion of seniors will double within the next two decades. The phenomenon is attributable to the aging of the baby-boomer generation within an era of increased longevity. The expected increase in the senior population triggered several studies and mobility programs have attempted to address senior needs. Studies found that: (a) most seniors travel either as drivers or automobile passengers but still face mobility barriers especially as they reach the point of having to give up driving; (b) seniors may suffer from physical or medical problems but still seek active community lives; and (c) in the US, more than three quarters of all seniors live in lower density rural and suburban areas. These areas are not served as well by public transportation as urban areas are. There are paratransit services that could fill the gap in mobility needs of seniors, but ADA legislation expanded many of these services and a perception that they are for passengers with disabilities. Besides, paratransit has proven to be a very expensive way of providing alternative transportation. A survey of seniors reveals that: (a) seniors in general would prefer dial-a-ride more than any other public transportation mode; and (b) seniors with physical limitations would prefer dial-a-ride as much as, if not more than, any other means of transportation. These facts vis-a-vis the cost of paratransit operations call for the need to rethink and revamp dial-a-ride service, if society is to meet future mobility preferences of very large incoming cohorts of seniors

Monograph Accession #:

01147878

Report/Paper Numbers:

10-3544

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Nuworsoo, Cornelius Kofi

Pagination:

18p

Publication Date:

2010

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2010-1-10 to 2010-1-14
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

DVD

Features:

Figures (2) ; References (26) ; Tables (6)

Subject Areas:

Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2010 Paper #10-3544

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Jan 25 2010 11:48AM