1. Alternative Transportation and Accessibility White House Conference on Aging Listening Session January 8, 2004 Audrey Straight, AARP Public Policy Institute

2. The Challenge More than one in five Americans age 65 and older do not drive. Nearly three out of five households with individuals age 65 and older do not have access to public transportation. Drivers who are 70 to 74 today are likely to outlive their driving years by seven years if they are men and by 10 years if they are women.

3. The Challenge (2) Disability and advancing age predict the lowest levels of mobility among persons 65+ No public transportation = no complementary paratransit required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Nondrivers age 65+ with disabilities make about 1/7 th of the number of trips made by drivers age 65+ with disabilities.

4. Why Worry? Importance of Mobility for All Baby boomers are aging where there are few transportation alternatives. Connection to the community is a key contributor to both mental and physical health. Value of contribution made by older adults to their communities Increasing imperative to work for economic security into later years.

5. Current Transportation Alternatives for Nondrivers Formal and informal ride-sharing Private for profit Private non-profit Volunteer drivers Family and friends, caregivers Public transportation Buses ADA Paratransit

6. Current Alternatives Specialized transportation Serve human services clients Typically restricted by purpose Taxis Private for profit May be under contract for ADA Walking For health and recreation For daily purposes

7. Barriers to Use of Alternatives Preference for the car Health and ability Lack of availability Usable public transportation Infrastructure for walking Lack of “fit” between passengers and alternatives – For example: Don’t go where and when people want to go Not affordable

8. Barriers (2) Lack of information Schedules, routes Use “Demand management” ADA eligibility

9. Accessibility Problems with accessibility, even where public transport and ADA paratransit Current alternatives often don’t address challenges most often experienced by elderly Cognitive impairment: Alzheimers Vision impairment Hearing impairment Travel environment Fragility Accessibility does not equal USABILITY

10. Goal Older Americans of all abilities have transportation options that will let them remain independent and connected to their communities as they face challenges of aging.

11. A Few Solutions Promote use of the options that exist. Improve the options that exist. Expand the options. Focus resources on a good fit between riders and alternatives. Leverage existing resources through coordination.