Alternative Transportation and an Aging Population

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By Anthony Tortorici
Edited by Sophie Appell

[Note: the use of "elderly" in this post instead of a more current term like "older adults" is consistent with the original cited article (Rosenbloom, 2003)]

The elderly population, which is defined here as the age 65 and older, is set to make up nearly one quarter of the US population by the year 2060. That number is more than double what the population makes up now, which is over 46 million individuals.

In the article “The Mobility Needs of Older Americans," Roosenbloom states that over half of the elderly population (56%) lives in suburbs. This implies that the majority of the elderly population relies on a personal vehicle as their main form of transportation.



The above graph shows the great disparity between single and high occupancy vehicles and transit or active transportation use among travelers age 65 or older. 
Rosenbloom also discusses the elderly and safety in their vehicles. The 65+ population is much more likely to be involved in a vehicle accident, and to be at fault for that accident. 

As options for transportation evolve, how are we including the elderly as we innovate and attempt to make transportation options more equitable? 

Public Transportation
There is a great initiative to bring public transportation into the digital age via a more modern fare system. Trimet emphasizes their initiative to rid themselves of the paper ticket, and switch to “Hop” cards and smartphone tickets via their app using a “virtual card.” When using a “virtual” Hop card, you must activate the app on your smartphone, and “tap” (a physical gesture) the phone on the Hop reader when you’re on board. Trimet states “for the time being” they will continue to sell paper tickets, but that time is running out.

Will this transition, which could be intimidating to the less tech-savvy, have an effect on ridership for the elderly population? According to a study conducted by Pew Research Center, forty-six percent of the elderly own smartphones. That number is small in comparison to ninety-four percent of the age 18-29 population. However, smartphone ownership doesn’t always imply competency to use technology.

Alternative Transportation
A similar argument can be made for services such as Lyft and Uber that require a smartphone for operation… 
Other forms of transportation are leaving out the elderly as well, pushing them to rely on their personal automobiles while sacrificing the safety of all drivers. 

An influx of e-scooters offered by various companies emphasize their commitment to making transportation “better,” but for whom? 

While I couldn’t find age-based statistics on the users of e-scooter services, one could make a qualitative observation that the majority of users fall in the 18-29 age range.  Similarly to vehicle use, the elderly population is more likely to become injured. In the article “Geriatric Cyclists: Assessing Risks, Safety and Benefits”,  John C. Elfar concludes that the elderly are much more likely to be injured while cycling than other age groups and said injuries are three times more likely to be fatal. Therefore, E-scooters do not seem like a viable option for this age group. 

This brings us back to square one. The elderly are unlikely to give up their personal vehicles, as the digital “start-up” style world of transportation doesn’t seem to be considering how the elderly, soon to be a quarter of the total population, will use their services. 

Rosenbloom suggests improvements in road infrastructure with an emphasis on safety. Perhaps there is a market waiting to be tapped into in the tech-world that bridges the gap between the the technology they offer and the elderly population. 

Comments

  1. AnonymousOctober 24, 2018 at 7:15 AM

    Some people don't yet use smartphones, but that isn't stopping companies from basing their services on them. At this point, we can still get by without smartphones, but it is getting a bit more challenging. It's very difficult to find paper maps now, and yes, you can't scoot. As smartphones become more central to our lives, and living without them is too challenging, people without them will have to start "smart-phoning." Obama phones will have to be upgraded to smartphones with more data, and AARP will probably offer some elder-friendly phablets.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dr. JoeNovember 2, 2018 at 3:25 PM

    Since this was written, Portland released the first numbers on e-scooter riders, and it reinforces your point, I think. Only about 2% of e-scooter users were 60+. More details here: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/700916?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jensen PerrickNovember 22, 2018 at 12:40 PM

    Your sources strengthen your point but I don't think I would've needed the statistics to agree with you! I live in North Portland and take public transit (of all forms) to and from school, work, visiting family and friends, errands, etc. and the elderly population is not a common rider in my experience.

    I do not use the e-scooters and after reading your post, I agree that although they provide another form of transport for folks and are an example of technological advancement, they do not serve a diverse population of travelers.

    You conclude by saying there is an untouched market to close the gap between the elderly and technology. I'm curious to know if you have any specific ideas that fit this market?

    Great post, Anthony!

    ReplyDelete

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