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Review
. 2017;10(4):343-361.
doi: 10.1007/s12062-016-9168-9. Epub 2016 Nov 12.

Review of Public Transport Needs of Older People in European Context

B P Shrestha  1 , A Millonig  2 , N B Hounsell  3 , M McDonald  3
Affiliations
Review

Review of Public Transport Needs of Older People in European Context

B P Shrestha et al. J Popul Ageing. 2017.

Abstract

People's life expectancy is increasing throughout the world as a result of improved living standards and medical advances. The natural ageing process is accompanied by physiological changes which can have significant consequences for mobility. As a consequence, older people tend to make fewer journeys than other adults and may change their transport mode. Access to public transport can help older people to avail themselves of goods, services, employment and other activities. With the current generation of older people being more active than previous generations of equivalent age, public transport will play a crucial role in maintaining their active life style even when they are unable to drive. Hence, public transport is important to older people's quality of life, their sense of freedom and independence. Within the European Commission funded GOAL (Growing Older and staying mobile) project, the requirements of older people using public transport were studied in terms of four main issues: Affordability, availability, accessibility and acceptability. These requirements were then analysed in terms of five different profiles of older people defined within the GOAL project - 'Fit as a Fiddle', 'Hole in the Heart', 'Happily Connected', An 'Oldie but a Goodie' and 'Care-Full'. On the basis of the analysis the paper brings out some areas of knowledge gaps and research needed to make public transport much more attractive and used by older people in the 21st century.

Keywords: Older people; Older people profile; Public transport; Transport accessibility.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest and no human participants and/or animals were used in this research. The manuscript complies to the Ethical Rules applicable for the journal.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Elaboration process of the profiles of older people
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Age and activity level of the profiles of older people (GOAL D2.1, 2012)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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