Elderly travel frequencies and transport mode choices in Greater Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Abstract

Demographic ageing is a key societal challenge in Europe as well as in many other western and non-western societies. A crucial dimension concerns elderly daily mobility patterns. While still partaking fewer and shorter trips than younger generations, today's elderly have been found increasingly (auto)mobile. Although the elderly benefit from the independence, freedom of movement, and social inclusion, concerns may rise regarding the environmental and accessibility impacts of this induced mobility. The present study adds to the expanding literature on elderly mobility, an integrated analysis of the effects of socio-demographic, health, trip, spatial and weather attributes on elderly mobility. Utilizing travel diary data for Greater Rotterdam, The Netherlands, trip frequencies and transport mode choices of the elderly are analysed by means of zero-inflated negative binomial models as well as multinomial logit regression models, and contrasted to the non-elderly subpopulation to explore (dis)similarities. While the results show common determinants, the models also highlight important differences in the magnitude of the estimated coefficients and factors only influencing transport patterns for the elderly. Embedded in the context of an aging population, the empirical findings assist policymakers and planners in several respects: For transportation plans and programs it is critical to recognize mobility needs of the elderly. As the seniors are becoming increasingly automobile, the results call for strategies to encourage older people to use more physically active and environmentally friendly transport modes such as public transport, walking and cycling.

Elderly’s Travel Patterns and Trends: The Empirical Analysis of Beijing

“…In the research field of the elderly's travel demand characteristics such as travel frequency and travel mode choice, it is generally considered that the elderly's travel shows the characteristics of "relatively short distances and low frequencies" [1,2,6,8]. Specifically, the current domestic and international research is focused on the following aspects.…”

“…The possession of a driver's license has an impact on travel frequency [19]. The elderly with a higher level of education travel more frequently and tend to use public transport [8].…”

“…Regarding travel attributes, cars are used the most during travels whose purpose is shopping [10]. Regarding the living environment, some studies have noted that the elderly in areas with a high degree of urbanization and a heavy population density show travel characteristics of "short distances, high frequencies, and preferences for public transport" [8]. In the Netherlands, the elderly in the downtown area are more inclined to walk than the elderly in the suburbs [20]; parks, shopping malls, and sidewalks around residential areas have a positive effect on the walking of the elderly [7].…”

“…In the past two years, some scholars have introduced travelers' health factors into research, and a study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, shows that obesity has no significant impact on the travel frequency of the elderly whereas physical disability has a very strong negative effect on the travel frequency of the elderly [8].…”

“…However, with global economic, scientific, and technological development and medical advances, the elderly's lifestyle is constantly changing and their mobility pattern is lacking in sustainability, resulting in changes in their travel characteristics: (1) compared to the past, the elderly's travel demand continues to show a growth trend; (2) studies in some European countries have found that the elderly are more likely to rely on cars than in the past; and (3) compared to young people, the elderly's travel characteristics and influencing factors are also changing [7][8][9]. At present, most foreign and domestic studies focus on the impact of individual and household socioeconomic attributes, travel attributes, and policy factors on travel frequency, travel mode choice, and travel demand of the elderly [8][9][10]. Meanwhile, several studies have highlighted that the increased travel demand and mobility of the elderly exacerbate traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and health problems [11].…”