The Impact of Emerging Transportation Options for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Jordana Maisel (Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access at the State University of New York at Buffalo)

Transportation plays an important role in creating a resilient and inclusive society because it is critical for ensuring participation by older adults and people with disabilities in employment, citizenship, social roles, education, and recreation. Due to an aging population, transit agencies across the country are experiencing growth in demand for accessible transit ridership. Innovative, flexible transit delivery services are being introduced into the traditional fixed-route/paratransit public transit model to address limitations in current service delivery. Although some of these new transportation services have initiated steps to improve their ability to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities, challenges still exist and require attention in order for these transit models to be effective and improve service delivery for these vulnerable populations.

This presentation examines the barriers and opportunities of these emerging transportation modes for older adults and people with disabilities. It includes an overview of traditional transportation options, and describes how microtransit, transportation network companies (TNCs) (i.e. ride-hailing services), and autonomous vehicles (AVs) emerged as technology-based disruptions to traditional transit options that both support and supplement existing transportation services. The presentation will summarize current transit service practices, reveal gaps in service delivery, provide case studies on pilot programs that introduced TNCs and microtransit, and show how effective AV implementation requires attention to vehicle design, the built environment, and policy. The presentation will offer recommendations on how diverse stakeholders can improve community mobility for all and describe how these emerging transportation delivery models serve as critical factors in creating more resilient and inclusive communities.