IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transa/v183y2024ics0965856424001137.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Trends and determinants of the mobility of older adults in the USA and Germany, 2001–2017

Author

Listed:
  • Buehler, Ralph
  • Pucher, John
  • Wittwer, Rico
  • Gerike, Regine

Abstract

Using the 2001 and 2017 National Household Travel Surveys (NHTS) for the USA and the 2002 and 2017 Mobility in Germany Surveys (MiD) for Germany, this paper examines differences between the two countries in the travel behavior of older adults and to what extent it has changed between 2001/2002 and 2017. We use five mobility indicators to portray the travel behavior of older adults: whether or not a trip is made at all on the survey day (i.e., mobile or not); number of trips per day for mobile individuals; km of travel per day for mobile individuals; modal distribution of trips; and trip purpose. In analyzing the travel behavior of older adults, we grouped them into 5-year age categories: from 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, and then 80+ years. In addition to a descriptive, graphical analysis, we employ multi-level multiple regression analysis to examine factors that may affect the mobility of older adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Buehler, Ralph & Pucher, John & Wittwer, Rico & Gerike, Regine, 2024. "Trends and determinants of the mobility of older adults in the USA and Germany, 2001–2017," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:183:y:2024:i:c:s0965856424001137
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2024.104065
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856424001137
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tra.2024.104065?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephanie J. Fonda & Robert B. Wallace & A. Regula Herzog, 2001. "Changes in Driving Patterns and Worsening Depressive Symptoms Among Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 56(6), pages 343-351.
    2. Niesr, 2023. "National Institute UK Economic Outlook Spring 2023," National Institute UK Economic Outlook, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, issue 10, pages 5-43.
    3. Luiu, Carlo & Tight, Miles, 2021. "Travel difficulties and barriers during later life: Evidence from the National Travel Survey in England," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    4. Ralph Buehler & John Pucher & Regine Gerike & Thomas Götschi, 2017. "Reducing car dependence in the heart of Europe: lessons from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 4-28, January.
    5. Reid Ewing & Robert Cervero, 2010. "Travel and the Built Environment," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 76(3), pages 265-294.
    6. Boschmann, E. Eric & Brady, Sylvia A., 2013. "Travel behaviors, sustainable mobility, and transit-oriented developments: a travel counts analysis of older adults in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 1-11.
    7. Susanne Nordbakke & Tim Schwanen, 2015. "Transport, unmet activity needs and wellbeing in later life: exploring the links," Transportation, Springer, vol. 42(6), pages 1129-1151, November.
    8. ., 2023. "From national- to multi-level governance," Chapters, in: Rethinking Public Governance, chapter 8, pages 135-152, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    9. Cheng, Long & Chen, Xuewu & Yang, Shuo & Cao, Zhan & De Vos, Jonas & Witlox, Frank, 2019. "Active travel for active ageing in China: The role of built environment," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 142-152.
    10. Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris & Martin Wachs & Miriam Pinski, 2019. "Toward a Richer Picture of the Mobility Needs of Older Americans," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 85(4), pages 482-500, October.
    11. Niesr, 2023. "National Institute UK Economic Outlook Winter 2023," National Institute UK Economic Outlook, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, issue 9, pages 4-5.
    12. Niesr, 2023. "National Institute Global Economic Outlook – Summary," National Institute Global Economic Outlook, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, issue 9, pages 4-5.
    13. Jianqiang Cui & Becky P. Y. Loo & Dong Lin, 2017. "Travel behaviour and mobility needs of older adults in an ageing and car-dependent society," International Journal of Urban Sciences, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(2), pages 109-128, May.
    14. ., 2023. "Collective security and the United Nations," Chapters, in: International Conflict and Security Law, chapter 1, pages 11-35, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    15. Ravensbergen, Léa & Van Liefferinge, Mathilde & Isabella, Jimenez & Merrina, Zhang & El-Geneidy, Ahmed, 2022. "Accessibility by public transport for older adults: A systematic review," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    16. Carlo Luiu & Miles Tight & Michael Burrow, 2017. "The unmet travel needs of the older population: a review of the literature," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(4), pages 488-506, July.
    17. Andrew Schouten & Martin Wachs & Evelyn A. Blumenberg & Hannah R. King, 2022. "Cohort analysis of driving cessation and limitation among older adults," Transportation, Springer, vol. 49(3), pages 841-865, June.
    18. Niesr, 2023. "National Institute Global Economic Outlook - Summary," National Institute Global Economic Outlook, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 0(9), pages 4-5.
    19. ., 2023. "The national treatment obligation," Chapters, in: The Law and Economics of International Trade Agreements, chapter 8, pages 193-218, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    20. Ralph Buehler & John Pucher, 2021. "The growing gap in pedestrian and cyclist fatality rates between the United States and the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, 1990–2018," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(1), pages 48-72, January.
    21. Figueroa, Maria J. & Nielsen, Thomas A. Sick & Siren, Anu, 2014. "Comparing urban form correlations of the travel patterns of older and younger adults," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 10-20.
    22. Engels, Benno & Liu, Gang-Jun, 2011. "Social exclusion, location and transport disadvantage amongst non-driving seniors in a Melbourne municipality, Australia," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 984-996.
    23. Niesr, 2023. "National Institute UK Economic Outlook Winter 2023," National Institute UK Economic Outlook, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, vol. 0(9), pages 4-5.
    24. Niesr, 2023. "National Institute Global Economic Outlook – Summary," National Institute Global Economic Outlook, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, issue 10, pages 4-5.
    25. Marta Bottero & Caterina Caprioli & Giancarlo Cotella & Marco Santangelo, 2019. "Sustainable Cities: A Reflection on Potentialities and Limits based on Existing Eco-Districts in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-22, October.
    26. Ralph Buehler & Wolfgang Jung & Andrea Hamre, 2015. "Planning for Sustainable Transport in Germany and the USA: A Comparison of the Washington, DC and Stuttgart Regions," International Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(3), pages 292-312, August.
    27. Nordbakke, Susanne, 2013. "Capabilities for mobility among urban older women: barriers, strategies and options," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 166-174.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gordon, Joel A. & Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye & Nabavi, Seyed Ali, 2023. "Price promises, trust deficits and energy justice: Public perceptions of hydrogen homes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    2. Joanna Niedźwiedzińska, 2024. "Strategia celu inflacyjnego a problem wysokiej inflacji – czy uwarunkowania instytucjonalne mają znaczenie?," Bank i Kredyt, Narodowy Bank Polski, vol. 55(4), pages 425-458.
    3. Lindley, Ben & Roulstone, Tony & Locatelli, Giorgio & Rooney, Matt, 2023. "Can fusion energy be cost-competitive and commercially viable? An analysis of magnetically confined reactors," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    4. McNamara, Ian & Flörke, Martina & Uschan, Thorben & Baez-Villanueva, Oscar M. & Herrmann, Frank, 2024. "Estimates of irrigation requirements throughout Germany under varying climatic conditions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    5. Hamed, A.S.A. & Yusof, N.I.F.M. & Yahya, M.S. & Cardozo, E. & Munajat, N.F., 2023. "Concentrated solar pyrolysis for oil palm biomass: An exploratory review within the Malaysian context," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    6. Mühlichen, Michael & Lerch, Mathias & Sauerberg, Markus & Grigoriev, Pavel, 2023. "Different health systems – Different mortality outcomes? Regional disparities in avoidable mortality across German-speaking Europe, 1992–2019," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    7. Ma, Jingwen & Zhao, Shengchuan & Li, Wu & Liu, Meng & Luo, Huanhuan, 2022. "Heterogeneity in seniors' unmet walking needs: A latent class analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    8. Ionuț NICA & Maria-Luiza CIOCAN, 2023. "Mapping circular pathways: a bibliometric exploration and Multilinear Regression Model of Romania's circular economy," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania / Editura Economica, vol. 0(4(637), W), pages 17-34, Winter.
    9. Jean Ryan, 2020. "Examining the Process of Modal Choice for Everyday Travel Among Older People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-19, January.
    10. Mitra, Suman & Yao, Mingqi & Ritchie, Stephen G., 2021. "Gender differences in elderly mobility in the United States," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 203-226.
    11. Wang, Xize, 2022. "Impact of health on driving for America's older adults: A nationwide, longitudinal study," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 69-79.
    12. Luiu, Carlo & Tight, Miles, 2021. "Travel difficulties and barriers during later life: Evidence from the National Travel Survey in England," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    13. Qinglin Jia & Tao Zhang & Long Cheng & Gang Cheng & Minjie Jin, 2022. "The Impact of the Neighborhood Built Environment on the Walking Activity of Older Adults: A Multi-Scale Spatial Heterogeneity Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-20, October.
    14. Kaniz Fatima & Sara Moridpour & Tayebeh Saghapour, 2021. "Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Elderly Public Transport Mode Preference," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, April.
    15. Deka, Devajyoti, 2022. "Trip deprivation among older adults in the context of the capability approach," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    16. Urbanek, Anna & Acedański, Jan & Krawczyk, Grzegorz, 2023. "Depopulation or ageing? Decomposing the aggregate effects of projected demographic changes on urban transport systems," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    17. Ahmad, Zaheer & Batool, Zahara & Starkey, Paul, 2019. "Understanding mobility characteristics and needs of older persons in urban Pakistan with respect to use of public transport and self-driving," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 181-190.
    18. Cheng, Long & Chen, Xuewu & Yang, Shuo & Cao, Zhan & De Vos, Jonas & Witlox, Frank, 2019. "Active travel for active ageing in China: The role of built environment," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 142-152.
    19. Liu, Shasha & Yamamoto, Toshiyuki & Yao, Enjian & Nakamura, Toshiyuki, 2021. "Examining public transport usage by older adults with smart card data: A longitudinal study in Japan," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    20. Katrin Lättman & Lars E. Olsson & Margareta Friman & Satoshi Fujii, 2019. "Perceived Accessibility, Satisfaction with Daily Travel, and Life Satisfaction among the Elderly," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-15, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:183:y:2024:i:c:s0965856424001137. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/547/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.