Aging Coming your way sooner or later Social Exclusion Informed Reality Thinking on Accessibility an

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Aging Coming your way sooner or laterSocial
Exclusion - Informed Reality Thinking on
Accessibility and Mobility in an Aging
PopulationA perspective on western societies

• David A. Hensher FASSA
• Professor of Management
• Director
• Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies
  (ITLS)
• Faculty of Economics and Business
• The University of Sydney
• Transport, Social Disadvantage and Well Being in
  Melbourne
• 6 April 2006
• (version 22a March 2006)

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Aging The Coming Rapid Growth in Elderly
Population is Inevitable

• Population aging is primarily due to
• Decline in fertility rate
• Increase in life expectancy
• Linked to some extent to well being and
  prosperity

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Aging The Coming Rapid Growth in Elderly
Population is Inevitable

• Challenge
• By encouraging "lifelong mobility" the OECD says,
  
• governments can enhance old people's
  independence and quality of life, while
  benefiting from lower public health and program
  costs.
• Delivering vitality in life

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A sense of fulfillment indicates the vitality of
elderly people A Japanese View

• Vitality is understood to be the keenness one
  feels about one's daily life, or the extent to
  which one feels life is worth living.
• Improving mobility will improve the vitality of
  elderly people by increasing the frequency of
  their outings.
• A public policy of ensuring a minimum level of
  mobility should be promoted further by developing
  transport policies that improve the vitality of
  all people in society.
• It has doubtlessly been assumed that, in every
  case, transport for the elderly means public
  transport, but we should think of seniors' use of
  their own cars not as something that is simply
  inevitable, but as a new trend that offers a
  number of advantages (see later slide).
• TO AVOID/MINIMISE social disadvantage
• Ref Barrier-Free Access to Transport Can
  Improved Mobility Raise the Elderly's Sense of
  Fulfillment? Hitoshi Ieda and Yasuyuki Muraki

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A Crucial Myth

• The majority of the elderly have fewer mobility
  needs than the rest of the population
• Response seniors also have unique transportation
  needs
• they may require more trips to the doctor and for
  other forms of medical attention which add to the
  number of trips they make.
• The reality is that the transportation needs of
  the elderly are just as significant as those
  required of younger, non-retired populations.
• Add to that the increased need for transportation
  options for those whose age or physical condition
  make it impossible for them to take advantage of
  traditional forms of public transportation,
• and the transportation issues facing the elderly
  take on even greater significance.
• Just getting out and about is of immense benefit
• Watch the Grey/Silver white Power Space

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USA 2005 Proclamation

• Ensuring transportation options for older
  Americans emerged as one of the top three issues
  (out of 73) considered by delegates at the recent
  fifth White House Conference on Aging in
  Washington.

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Links to Travel Activity

• Examples in Sydney
• 2000-2003

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Average home-based trip chains per day by age and
mode
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License holding by age and gender
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Issues that are Facts about Seniors of the Future

• By and large, the population will age
  substantially but differ from the elderly of
  today in certain respects
• The elderly will have experienced social change
  and will be used to claiming their rights, which
  will foster a more participative form of
  democracy
• Those among the elderly who are not wholly
  reliant on state pension schemes will enjoy
  relatively high incomes
• They will be car users (DRIVERS or PASSENGERS) in
  the main.
• A high and increasing proportion of women too
  will hold driving licences, which is not always
  the case today.
• There is no point in extrapolating from current
  trends, because future developments will be on a
  new scale.

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Issues that are Facts about Seniors of the
Future (with extensive car ownership and use)

• The death of a husband (typically earlier than
  spouse) who is the only member of a couple to
  have a driving licence can pose particular
  problems.
• here, socially inclusive transport solutions will
  have to be found for people who are still
  able-bodied but do not drive.
• So it is important to begin devising
• solutions that tap the potential of new
  technologies to rationalise services,
• especially since conventional public transport
  will be unable to cope efficiently with an ageing
  suburban population.
• Walking to bus and train up a steep hill
• Roughness of many streets without footpaths

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Issues that are Facts about Seniors of the
Future (with extensive car ownership and use)

• Public transport operators are still, in the
  main, unaware of the aging challenge and what it
  entails.
• For instance, while public transport signage may
  be adequate for younger people, it will not be
  for the elderly.
• Infrastructure development will have to take into
  account the large number of elderly people, who
  are particularly at risk when travelling.
• It will therefore be important to increase
  staffing on public transport and at PT
  interchanges.
• Play classical music to scare trouble makers
  away!
• Encouraging walking (and good diet) at all ages
  will increase the health of aging people and
• make alternatives to PT such as the car a longer
  term mode to give flexible accessibility
• HOWEVER there is a counter view about car
  dependence encouraging obesity, a factor which
  reduces mobility and life expectancy

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The Car as key element in Social Inclusion

• Services to the home will not suffice
• It will be important for the elderly to have a
  social life, including visits to friends, and
  this will involve travel.
• Enabling the elderly to live like other people,
  even if special services are required, will help
  to keep them happy.
• Driving life will be extended as innovation-led
  improvements are made in cars and driving aids.
• Because the elderly have slower reactions than
  those of working age, road safety will also be a
  growing concern.
• Criteria will have to be found to judge a
  persons ability to drive, even if the elderly
  tend to decide to drive less of their own accord
• Linked to policies on social inclusion/exclusion

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A Big Point To minimise the greater dependence
on inadequate PT leading to social disadvantage

• As the number of elderly people in developed
  economies increases, more individuals are likely
  to want to continue driving cars as their main
  means of transport (given their well being and
  financial status).
• Cars must be made easier for older people to
  drive. To ensure they can drive safely, there
  must be changes in vehicle design, including
• improved access to seat belts among older people
  with physical restrictions
• improved safety features to protect occupants,
  pedestrians and cyclists
• wing mirrors and other rear view capability given
  the difficulty in moving ones neck left and
  right
• compulsory power steering
• compulsory distance warnings re side swiping,
  reversing, parking.
• In-vehicle signage equivalent to Baby on Board
  (maybe Baby Boomer on Board?)
• Roads and pavements should be better adapted to
  the needs of the elderly, including
• Larger signage with less but crucial information
  (given processing abilities)
• Much better road marking to distinguish lanes
• ATIS/ITS signs that assist the elderly in
  avoiding specific road links and routes that are
  more challenging.
• However, Flexible public transport systems suited
  to older passengers must also be developed as
  alternatives to the private car
• But DO NOT assume it will be a major solution
  to mobility and accessibility needs

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Japanese Recommendations(so people can get out
and about more easily)

• Roads should be constructed to permit greater
  sight distances,
• The government should restrict billboards and
  other advertising that tends to obstruct views of
  traffic signs and signals.
• To make driving easier, cars should be
  computerized to a greater extent,
• Cars should have fewer blind spots,
• Mirrors should offer better vision, and
• Instrument panels should be made easier to see.

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The Elderly as Pedestrians in the Road Environment

• Walking in the road environment is dangerous for
  the Elderly
• Injury rate not greatly different from other age
  groups
• excluding the very young
• BUT
• Fatality rate is much higher, especially for
  males
• Thus there is a need for more attention to urban
  design for safe walking
• The Bogota position make it safe for children
  and it will be safe for everyone, including
  seniors

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Japanese Recommendations (so people can get out
and about more easily)

• PT needs improvements include
• further installation of elevators and escalators
  in stations
• renovations that make it possible to walk without
  stepping up or down
• signs that are easy to read and understand and
  that maintain uniform standards, making
  recognition easy for people who transfer between
  different transport modes or different operators
  
• information services that make transport systems
  easier to use
• better rest areas within the transport system
  and
• lowering of vehicle floors to platform levels.

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Driving Tests Compulsory or Mandatory?(Social
exclusion impacts typically ignored if ones fails
an annual driving test)

• OECD View
• Rather than imposing mandatory driving tests once
  people reach a certain age, the OECD recommends
  community-based assessments involving doctors,
  police and social services, as well as the family
  and friends of older drivers.
• At the same time, they argue the need for a
  better approach to assessing and responding to
  the disabilities that can hamper safe driving.
• My suggestions (at least)
• A larger array of graded licences

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The Facts

• But, providing transportation alternatives for
  the elderly is not just a matter of public
  safety.
• In many cases, otherwise active seniors lack
  private transportation, either because they never
  learned to drive, or, because they cannot afford
  a car.
• Even more important, mobility is critical to the
  emotional well-being of people of all ages, and
  continued interaction with family, friends, and
  the larger community is a key ingredient in
  maintaining the psychological health of our aging
  citizens.
• That interaction is made easier when acceptable
  transportation alternatives are available.

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Sydney In-Depth Interviews 2005-06

• Some are too frail to use conventional public
  transport.
• cannot walk to the nearest bus stop, for example.
• For those without severe mobility impairment,
• service availability of conventional public
  transport does not meet their needs (Western
  Suburbs).
• Others who are mobile and able to access public
  transport with relative ease use public transport
  regularly- every day- and do not consult family
  or friends for assistance.
• they like their independence and want to maintain
  this for as long as possible.

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Sydney In-Depth Interviews 2005-06

• Some stated that the fare increase to the
  pensioner excursion ticket has impacted on their
  weekly budget and therefore they have to think
  twice every time they want to go out.
• Before the fare increase, they were more likely
  to go out every day.
• In some cases, accessibility to the nearest bus
  stop is sometimes a problem because older persons
  cannot safely cross the road in sufficient time,
  especially when there is no pedestrian crossing.
• This safety concern forces them to walk to the
  next nearest bus stop which is a considerable
  distance away, again affecting how often they use
  public transport.

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Sydney In-Depth Interviews 2005-06

• Of those who use community transport,
• they are impressed and satisfied with the service
  (many of these people are people who have never
  driven before)
• Some stated that without community transport that
  
• they would not be able to do their shopping or
  attend social activities and they would not want
  to ask family for help.
• Ex drivers tend to feel more helpless and
  depressed about their loss of mobility and
  freedom
• One ex driver stated that she feels like she is
  going through a second childhood and was most
  depressed about this.

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Sydney In-Depth Interviews 2005-06

• Overall most people interviewed prefer to travel
  by car if available (whether volunteer drivers or
  family and friends)
• However, they would not impose on family or
  friends for transport support regardless of
  disability.
• Many wait for their family to go shopping and go
  shopping with them
• they mould their needs around the availability of
  friends and family (w. suburbs mainly)

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Connectivity is more important than density per se
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Fixed Guideway (BRT, LRT)
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Appealing but
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Rail Thinking
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Informed Bus Thinking
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This looks like what Melbourne needs
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Frequency and Connectivity in addition to Scale

• If we want to focus on a future with PT, then
• Frequency and connectivity (and visibility) is
  what it is all about and this can be accommodated
  by flexible PT.
• PT should be encouraged to be innovative in its
  delivery of frequency and connectivity
• Furthermore given Australian OD densities, bus
  based systems are ideal. They also are
  deliverable from the private sector and small
  (efficient) operators.
• And BRT is safer/more secure than Rail and easier
  to use

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But as You age
Thank You
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The Future
It's a bright, sunny Spring morning in Eugene,
Oregon as you head off to work. Three blocks from
your home is a Lane Transit District BRT stop.
You check your wireless Handspring PDA to see
when the next "train" is scheduled to stop. LTD's
wireless information system assures you that the
next "train" is only three minutes away. You
check your watch. It's 724 am. At precisely 727
am, the inbound commuter "train" pulls into your
stop. Extra wide doors open and a couple people
get out. You step aboard the low floored vehicle,
point your Bluetooth-equipped PDA at a
similarly-equipped ticket counter device. You
electronically transfer the price of your ticket
and take a seat. Swiftly, quietly, without a wisp
of pollution, the rubber-tired, articulated bus
heads for the next stop, unobstructed by other
traffic because it operates on its own dedicated
lane system like that envisioned in this 3D
computer rendering, courtesy of LTD. Exactly 18
minutes later, you arrive at your stop, just two
blocks from your place of work. The ride has been
smooth, quiet and trouble-free. You have even had
time to check your email. This scenario may soon
become a reality, at least the Bus Rapid Transit
aspect, if not the wireless ticketing part. Lane
Transit District is on track to become one of the
first communities in America to introduce the
next generation of BRT in the form of the Irisbus
Civis electric bus. (Bill Moore, Eworld, March
31, 2001)