Mobility and transport in old age: recent evidence and implications

As the population ages, the need for flexible transport services, but also ensuring the accessibility of public spaces and means of transport become essential to prevent the exclusion of older persons from the community life. The aim of this article is to provide recent empirical evidence about the degree of use of means of transport by older persons, including their perception regarding the accessibility of public transport and spaces. To attain this objective, a survey was conducted among older persons (65
and over).

Our study shows that the accessibility of public spaces and access to assistive devices that facilitate the mobility of older persons do not meet the needs of this population category, especially in rural areas. About a third of the participants admit that public transport is not adapted to the needs of older persons and the use of public transport is much more frequent in urban areas, compared to rural areas.

The results of our study highlight the need for appropriate policy measures in the medium and long term period in the field of active aging and transport.