IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v11y2014i12p12938-12968d43460.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Overall Accessibility to Traveling by Rail for the Elderly with and without Functional Limitations: The Whole-Trip Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Catherine Sundling

    (Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, SE-106-91 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Birgitta Berglund

    (Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, P.O. Box 210, SE-171-77 Stockholm, Sweden
    Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, SE-106-91 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Mats E. Nilsson

    (Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, SE-106-91 Stockholm, Sweden)

  • Ragne Emardson

    (SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, P.O. Box 857, SE-501-15 Borås, Sweden)

  • Leslie R. Pendrill

    (SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, P.O. Box 857, SE-501-15 Borås, Sweden)

Abstract

Elderly persons’ perceived accessibility to railway traveling depends on their functional limitations/diseases, their functional abilities and their travel behaviors in interaction with the barriers encountered during whole trips. A survey was conducted on a random sample of 1000 city residents (65–85 years old; 57% response rate). The travels were perceived least accessible by respondents with severely reduced functional ability and by those with more than one functional limitation/disease (e.g., restricted mobility and chronic pain). Those who traveled “often”, perceived the accessibility to be better than those who traveled less frequently. For travelers with high functional ability, the main barriers to more frequent traveling were travel costs and low punctuality. For those with low functional ability, one’s own health was reported to be the main barrier. Our results clarify the links among existing functional limitations/functional abilities, the barriers encountered, the travel behavior, and the overall accessibility to traveling. By operationalizing the whole-trip concept as a chain of events, we deliver practical knowledge on vulnerable groups for decision-making to improve the transport environment for all.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Sundling & Birgitta Berglund & Mats E. Nilsson & Ragne Emardson & Leslie R. Pendrill, 2014. "Overall Accessibility to Traveling by Rail for the Elderly with and without Functional Limitations: The Whole-Trip Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-31, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:12:p:12938-12968:d:43460
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/12/12938/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/12/12938/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Su, Fengming & Schmöcker, Jan-Dirk & Bell, Michael G.H., 2009. "Mode Choice of Older People Before and After Shopping: A Study with London Data," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 2(1), pages 29-46.
    2. Rosenkvist, Jenny & Risser, Ralf & Iwarsson, Susanne & Wendel, Kerstin & Ståhl, Agneta, 2009. "The Challenge of Using Public Transport: Descriptions by People with Cognitive Functional Limitations," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 2(1), pages 65-80.
    3. Schmöcker, Jan-Dirk & Quddus, Mohammed A. & Noland, Robert B. & Bell, Michael G.H., 2008. "Mode choice of older and disabled people: a case study of shopping trips in London," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 16(4), pages 257-267.
    4. Redman, Lauren & Friman, Margareta & Gärling, Tommy & Hartig, Terry, 2013. "Quality attributes of public transport that attract car users: A research review," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 119-127.
    5. Farquhar, Morag, 1995. "Elderly people's definitions of quality of life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(10), pages 1439-1446, November.
    6. Su, Fengming & Bell, Michael G.H., 2009. "Transport for older people: Characteristics and solutions," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 46-55.
    7. Spinney, Jamie E.L. & Scott, Darren M. & Newbold, K. Bruce, 2009. "Transport mobility benefits and quality of life: A time-use perspective of elderly Canadians," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, January.
    8. Maynard, Alice, 2009. "Can measuring the benefits of accessible transport enable a seamless journey?," The Journal of Transport and Land Use, Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota, vol. 2(2), pages 21-30.
    9. Alsnih, Rahaf & Hensher, David A., 2003. "The mobility and accessibility expectations of seniors in an aging population," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 903-916, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Izabela Kurtyka-Marcak & Maria Hełdak & Katarzyna Przybyła, 2019. "The Actual Demand for the Elimination of Architectural Barriers among Senior Citizens in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-16, July.
    2. Hing-Wah Chau & Melissa Chan & Elmira Jamei & Katrin Lättman, 2024. "The Impacts of Perceived Safety and Service Quality on Perceived Accessibility by Public Transport in Melbourne," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Catherine Sundling, 2015. "Travel Behavior Change in Older Travelers: Understanding Critical Reactions to Incidents Encountered in Public Transport," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-23, November.
    4. Sukhov, Alexandre & Friman, Margareta & Olsson, Lars E., 2023. "Unlocking potential: An integrated approach using PLS-SEM, NCA, and fsQCA for informed decision making," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Elmira Jamei & Melissa Chan & Hing Wah Chau & Eric Gaisie & Katrin Lättman, 2022. "Perceived Accessibility and Key Influencing Factors in Transportation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-22, August.

    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. Deka, Devajyoti, 2014. "The role of household members in transporting adults with disabilities in the United States," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 45-57.
    2. Dou, Xianchen & Jian, Meiying & Guo, Chen & Cao, JinXin, 2023. "Estimation of the aggregation degree of public transport use among elderly people based on urban built environment," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    3. Steven Farber & Antonio Páez, 2010. "Employment status and commute distance of Canadians with disabilities," Transportation, Springer, vol. 37(6), pages 931-952, November.
    4. Susanne T. Dale Nordbakke, 2019. "Mobility, Out-of-Home Activity Participation and Needs Fulfilment in Later Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    5. 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.
    6. Wong, R.C.P. & Szeto, W.Y. & Yang, Linchuan & Li, Y.C. & Wong, S.C., 2018. "Public transport policy measures for improving elderly mobility," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 73-79.
    7. Pettersson, Pierre & Schmöcker, Jan-Dirk, 2010. "Active ageing in developing countries? – trip generation and tour complexity of older people in Metro Manila," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 18(5), pages 613-623.
    8. Catherine Sundling & Mats E. Nilsson & Sara Hellqvist & Leslie R. Pendrill & Ragne Emardson & Birgitta Berglund, 2016. "Travel behaviour change in old age: the role of critical incidents in public transport," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 75-83, March.
    9. 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.
    10. Carlo Luiu & Miles Tight & Michael Burrow, 2018. "Factors Preventing the Use of Alternative Transport Modes to the Car in Later Life," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-21, June.
    11. Hjorthol, Randi J. & Levin, Lena & Sirén, Anu, 2010. "Mobility in different generations of older persons," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 18(5), pages 624-633.
    12. Chang, Yu-Chun, 2013. "Factors affecting airport access mode choice for elderly air passengers," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 105-112.
    13. Su, Rongxiang & Xiao, Jingyi & McBride, Elizabeth C. & Goulias, Konstadinos G., 2021. "Understanding senior's daily mobility patterns in California using human mobility motifs," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    14. Ranković Plazinić, Biljana & Jović, Jadranka, 2018. "Mobility and transport potential of elderly in differently accessible rural areas," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 169-180.
    15. Spinney, Jamie E.L. & Newbold, K. Bruce & Scott, Darren M. & Vrkljan, Brenda & Grenier, Amanda, 2020. "The impact of driving status on out-of-home and social activity engagement among older Canadians," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    16. Khandker Habib, 2015. "An investigation on mode choice and travel distance demand of older people in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Canada: application of a utility theoretic joint econometric model," Transportation, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 143-161, January.
    17. Hahn, Jin-Seok & Kim, Hyoung-Chul & Kim, Joon-Ki & Ulfarsson, Gudmundur F., 2016. "Trip making of older adults in Seoul: Differences in effects of personal and household characteristics by age group and trip purpose," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 55-62.
    18. Lucas, Karen & Bates, John & Moore, José & Carrasco, Juan Antonio, 2016. "Modelling the relationship between travel behaviours and social disadvantage," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 157-173.
    19. G. Dikas & I. Minis, 2018. "Scheduled Paratransit Transport Enhanced by Accessible Taxis," Transportation Science, INFORMS, vol. 52(5), pages 1122-1140, October.
    20. Kwon, Kihyun & Akar, Gulsah, 2022. "People with disabilities and use of public transit: The role of neighborhood walkability," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).

    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:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:12:p:12938-12968:d:43460. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.