Exploring mobility of older people: a case study of Adelaide

This paper explores mobility of older people in Metropolitan Adelaide using existing datasets together with data from a recent (2010) travel survey of older people (N=117). Findings derived from qualitative and quantitative methods suggest that older people's mobility, when measured by daily trip, distance travelled, and trip chain complexity, decreases with increasing age. Socio-economic characteristics, e.g. age, gender, income, driving licence, living alone, length of current residence, and mobile phone ownership as well as neighbourhood characteristics, e.g. population density, percentage shares of residential and commercial areas, and distance to the Central Business District (CBD) are found to be important factors underpinning travel patterns of older people. Medical services, shopping facilities and public transport are reported as being the three most important services/facilities influencing the residential location choice of older people. The need for smaller accommodation is the main driver of residential relocation. Concerns of older people about safety of motorised scooters and their needs of taxi concessions and designated senior parking spaces are also highlighted. Analyses of public transport usage among older Adelaide residents show an increase resulting from the Seniors FREE Travel initiative. Implications for transportation and urban development policy are also discussed.