AASHTO Journal - Study: New Mobility Options Leaving Many Older Adults Behind

A new report authored by the American Association of Retired Persons’ Public Policy Institute, Urbanism Next Center, University of Oregon, and RAND Corporation finds that a “large population of harder-to-serve older adults” are being “left out” of the “new mobility revolution” that encompasses ride-sharing and autonomous vehicles or AVs.

[Above photo via the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center.]

That report – sponsored by AARP – finds that older adults who have more limitations (physical, cognitive, multiple disabilities, financial, technology access/understanding) or certain specific needs (transportation that accommodates mobility aids, low-income, rural location) often do not fit into current “new mobility” business models.

The report said the current “ride-hailing service model” provides a useful analytic proxy for AVs, as it presents a similar consumer experience to what is expected for AVs. It then outlines three major barriers for older adults with limitations or specific needs:

Using these emerging transportation technologies requires smartphone and internet access, and access to making online payments, all of which present challenges for many older adults who may lack even a base level of tech fluency and comfort.
The vehicles can be difficult to enter and exit, and they may not easily accommodate the walking aids or wheelchairs that are used by approximately a quarter of all older adults.
Current ride hailing and projected AV services focus almost exclusively on curb-to-curb service, but many older adults need door-to-door or hand-to-hand service due to other challenges. Those include identifying the vehicle when it arrives; stowing and retrieving bags or mobility aids; finding the correct door at complex locations such as a hospitals or shopping centers; and physically navigating busy streets and sidewalks.

“Eliminating this ‘nobody’s problem’ challenge will require public and private sector focus, funding, and coordination between traditional paratransit providers – local governments, social service organization – and micro-transit operators, existing new mobility providers, and AV companies,” the report concluded.

“The framework in this report can provide an easy-to-consult reference for policymakers as they define roles and responsibilities among public- and private-sector actors whose actions can enable equitable access – or result in greater inequity,” it said.