Published: August 26, 2020
The Bottom Line
- Being able to move around on your own helps maintain a healthy and active life
- If you live in the suburbs or in rural areas, the car is the most used mode of travel among older adults
- Alternative transport modes such as public or flexible transport, taxis, walking and cycling can be considered, but obstacles remain.
It is widely believed that as people age, they stop driving and, as a result, switch to using public or adapted transport services. However, this is not what is observed. In Europe, almost 50% of trips by people aged 55 and over are made by car, either as a driver or passenger. This percentage reaches 70% in Australia and 80% in the United States.
Many older adults say that they have no other options for getting around… Yet there are a variety of alternative modes of transportation: public transit, flexible or adapted transportation, taxis, bicycles, walking.
So, what is preventing them from adopting alternative modes of transport?
The McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (mcmasteroptimalaging.org), a unique online health resource created by McMaster University to support the healthy aging of Canada’s older adult population, is highlighting ways to stay active and engaged while practicing physical distancing during the current COVID-19 pandemic.​ Read more.
