How to Provide Mobility in an
Ageing Society
Ann Frye
Ann Frye
LIMITED
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
2
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
Ann Frye
LIMITED
3
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
Ann Frye
LIMITED
4
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
5
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
Ann Frye
LIMITED
6
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
7
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
8
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
9
Walking
Ann Frye
LIMITED
• 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
Ann Frye
LIMITED
11
Waiting
• Many bus stops
have no shelter
or seats;
• Stops are often
located in places
where people feel
vulnerable.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
12
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
13
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
14
Fear of Falling
Ann Frye
LIMITED
• 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.
15
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
16
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
Ann Frye
access to the stop
and on to the bus or
LIMITED
Picture courtesy of Arriva
17
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
18
Transition from Driving
Photo courtesy of East Hampshire District
Council
Ann Frye
LIMITED
• 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!
Ann Frye
LIMITED
20
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
21
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
22
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
23
Key Policy Issues:
Universal Design
•
•
•
•
•
Simple and intuitive;
Equitable;
Flexible;
Low physical effort;
Appropriate size &
space.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
24
Universal Design
• Crowded
environments create
stress;
• Reducing stress by
good design helps
everyone – particularly
older people.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
25
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
26
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.
Ann Frye
LIMITED
27
How to Provide Mobility in an
Ageing Society
Ann Frye
Ann Frye
LIMITED