Travel behaviour and mobility needs of older adults in an ageing and car-dependent society

Abstract

An ageing population poses long-term challenges for a nation’s health, labour force market, housing and transport, affecting economic growth, living standards and government finances. With increasingly rapid ageing in both developed and developing countries, how to develop future transport frameworks, taking into account the increasingly large ageing population and their travel needs, has been emerging as a major challenge in urban policy development. This review explores how demographic changes in an ageing society and the associated travel patterns of a changing older cohort may impact on future transport demand by providing evidence on the travel behaviour of older adults, its associated influencing factors and the possible alternatives to car transport for older adults. It concludes by discussing major policy areas for addressing the elderly’s mobility needs via the provision of future transport infrastructure and services, implementing legislative and institutional approaches, and building accessible mobility environments. The paper also identifies key directions for further research.