More than A to B: the role of free bus travel for the mobility and wellbeing of older citizens in London

Abstract

This study contributes to the literature on mobility and wellbeing at older ages through an empirical exploration of the meanings of free bus travel for older citizens, addressing the meanings this holds for older people in urban settings, which have been under-researched. Taking London as a case study, where older citizens have free access to a relatively extensive public transport network through a Freedom Pass, we explore from a public health perspective the mechanisms that link this travel benefit to determinants of wellbeing. In addition to the ways in which the Freedom Pass enabled access to health-related goods and services, it provided less tangible benefits. Travelling by bus provided opportunities for meaningful social interaction; travelling as part of the ‘general public’ provided a sense of belonging and visibility in the public arena – a socially acceptable way of tackling chronic loneliness. The Freedom Pass was described not only as providing access to essential goods and services but also as a widely prized mechanism for participation in life in the city. We argue that the mechanisms linking mobility and wellbeing are culturally, materially and politically specific. Our data suggest that in contexts where good public transport is available as a right, and bus travel not stigmatised, it is experienced as a major contributor to wellbeing, rather than a transport choice of last resort. This has implications for other jurisdictions working on accessible transport for older citizens and, more broadly, improving the sustainability of cities.

Understanding welfare conditionality in the context of a generational habitus: A qualitative study of older citizens in England

“…Uptake of benefits conditional on simply being part of a generation also fostered social recognition, solidifying a sense of a 'generation' that was valued. That benefits such as free travel contribute to the ability of older citizens to demonstrate their belonging, participation, independence and competence in their locality, has been noted in previous studies (Green et al, 2014). Here, we further argue that uptake provided a field entirely congruent with generational habitus.…”

Relationships between neighborhood attributes and subjective well-being among the Chinese elderly: Data from Shanghai

“…Studies of SWB have also examined its association with environmental factors, with an emphasis on the importance of the geographically proximal environment for older adults, particularly those who are retired or becoming frail and therefore likely to be spending more time in their immediate neighborhood (8). Several studies showed that certain physical attributes of the neighborhood, such as quality public transportation (9) and access to green/ recreational areas (10,11), were positively associated with higher levels of SWB.…”

Measures of Transport-Related Social Exclusion: A Critical Review of the Literature

“…Social exclusion is seen to be a process; a process which is largely considered to be related to societal systems and/or agencies-such as labour market, transport, legal system [25,30,31,34,35,47,48]. The processes are dynamic in nature and interact with each other [16,26,28,34]. As a result, individuals face deprivation in multiple dimensions including poverty at a particular point in time-as an intermediate outcome [33,38,46].…”