1. travel
2. transports
3. public transport

How to Provide Mobility in an
Ageing Society
Ann Frye
Ann Frye
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Demographics
• Our populations are getting
older;
• There is a strong link
between age and disability;
• Two thirds of disabled
people are elderly;
• Over half the population
aged over 75 has a
disability;
• By 2015 older people will
account for 19% of Europe’s
population – some 95 million
people.
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European Trends in Growth of
Population aged over 65
Total (m)
EU27
140,000,000
120,000,000
100,000,000
80,000,000
60,000,000
40,000,000
20,000,000
0
2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030
Year
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The Link between Age and
Disability
70
60
50
Percentage
40
with
locomotor 30
disability
20
men
women
10
0
1624
2534
3544
4554
5564
6574
7584
85+
Age Group
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The Implications of an
Ageing Society
• The growing imbalance between working age
and older people will have profound economic
as well as social implications;
• The working age population will be too small to
support an older population who are not self
sufficient;
• Transport and mobility are key to maintaining
self sufficiency and independence.
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Key Issues for Older People
• Research into older people’s needs
indicates that they want transport and
personal mobility that is:
Available
Accessible
Reliable
Safe
Affordable
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Barriers to Older People’s
Mobility
• Walking to the bus stop
or railway station;
• Waiting at the bus stop
or railway station;
• Understanding the
timetable;
• Getting on and off the
bus or train;
• Fear of falling on board;
• Fear for personal
security.
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Travel Patterns among Older
People
• In some countries, older people are choosing to
continue to drive;
• Walking is still an important transport mode for
older people, but;
• Car use seems to be replacing walking and, to a
lesser extent, public transport;
• Currently public transport is most commonly
used by people aged 75 + and by women.
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Walking
• Older people walk more (up to
30-40% of travelling time is
spent on walking);
• Older pedestrians are more
exposed to specific risks than
any other age group;
• This risk is not reflected in road
accident statistics because
slips, trips and falls are not
included;
• Nonetheless the cost to society
is high.
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Walking
Ann Frye
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• Even if public transport is
within walking distance
there are often no useable
pavements or safe crossing
points;
• The loss of local outdoor
mobility is a major cause of
declining mental and
physical health among older
people;
• Good highway design and
maintenance is a key factor
in creating an environment
in which older people feel
safe;
• Maintaining or re-creating
neighbourhoods with local 10
shops is also important.
Walking
• Many of the measures now being
taken in the context of
sustainable transport in European
cities also promote accessibility,
mobility and safety for older
people. These include:
more use of alternatives to the
car, including walking and
public transport
lower traffic speeds
better urban design
more facilities within walking
distances
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Waiting
• Many bus stops
have no shelter
or seats;
• Stops are often
located in places
where people feel
vulnerable.
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Picture by Leif Jørgensen
Waiting
• Timetable information is
often illegible or
incomprehensible;
• Older people need clear
real time information so
they can decide whether
they are able to wait.
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Getting on Board
• Many public transport
systems are now
more easily
accessible;
• But a low floor isn’t
the whole solution;
• Bus driver training
and traffic
management are also
vital so that buses pull
up close to stops and
give people time to
get on board.
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Fear of Falling
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• For many older people, a
fear of falling is a major
deterrent to using public
transport;
• They need time to get to a
seat;
• They need plenty of
handholds to steady
themselves;
• This is about good design
and about driver training.
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Personal Security
• Many older people are
worried about their
personal security;
• They feel vulnerable on
public transport and
waiting to get on it;
• Good lighting and the
presence of staff can be
a great help.
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The cost of Travel
• Affordability is an
issue for many older
people;
• Most countries in
Europe offer cheap
or free travel at least
off peak to senior
citizens;
• But, cost is often less
important than
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access to the stop
and on to the bus or
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Picture courtesy of Arriva
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Driving
• Older people do not deliberately take more risks in
traffic but they are more at risk;
• They are more frail and so the consequences of road
accidents are more severe than for any other age
group;
• Simply because of this the number of injuries and
fatalities in road accidents will increase.
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Transition from Driving
Photo courtesy of East Hampshire District
Council
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• Using public transport
should not be seen as
a last resort and a
sign of old age and
infirmity!
• It is important to
encourage older
people to start to use
public transport as an
option while they are
still driving;
• This will make the
transition less painful.19
Key Policy Issues:
Getting the Right Balance
• Involve older people in policy development –
listen to what they want;
• Understand that affordability is important but that
cheap or free transport will not, in isolation, get
people out of their cars;
• Recognise that there is a balance to be struck
between safety and mobility – older people are
more at risk as pedestrians than they are as
drivers!
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Key Policy Issues:
Ageing in Place
• In many countries, older people have
traditionally moved out of the cities after
retirement;
• This can lead to isolation and loss of
mobility when driving is no longer possible;
• There is a need to encourage older people
to remain in city communities where they
can retain independence longer.
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Key Policy Issues:
Transport Planning
• Older people may face physical,
psychological and economic
barriers to travel;
• For some this will include
diminished motor, sensory and
cognitive abilities;
• To overcome these barriers and to
allow older people to play a full part
in society a fundamental re-think of
transport policy is needed;
• We need to meet older people’s
mobility needs in a safe, accessible
and sustainable way.
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Key Policy Issues:
Land Use Planning
• Many older people don’t
use public transport
because they can’t get to
it;
• Land Use Planning is a
major factor;
• New communities must be
planned with local
services and facilities;
• Where this isn't possible,
flexibly routed , door to
door or taxi services can
provide a good solution.
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Key Policy Issues:
Universal Design
•
•
•
•
•
Simple and intuitive;
Equitable;
Flexible;
Low physical effort;
Appropriate size &
space.
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Universal Design
• Crowded
environments create
stress;
• Reducing stress by
good design helps
everyone – particularly
older people.
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Universal Design
• Complex ticketing
arrangements and poor
signage add to stress:
• Barcelona Metro has turned
conventional design on its
head:
Ticket machine designed by blind
people;
Designed for passengers not
engineers!
Intuitive to use;
Everyone gets tickets faster;
Fewer staff employed to help.
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Summary
• Providing mobility for older people needs:
Partnership between transport providers,
planners and highway authorities;
Development of urban communities in which
amenities and housing are close together;
Priority for pedestrians over motorists;
A focus on systems and services that are
user-friendly and intuitive;
Creating cities for older people is both an
economic and a social imperative.
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How to Provide Mobility in an
Ageing Society
Ann Frye
Ann Frye
LIMITED