public transit systems
What can public transit systems do to increase older adult ridership?
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We’d like to hear about your experiences, challenges, and recommendations related to planning for the transportation needs of older adults. This includes the data and information you collect and the processes you use to analyze these data and make decisions about senior transportation.
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The dialogue is an open forum for idea exchange on planning for the transportation needs of older adult issues and innovations. You’re invited to let your colleagues know about the dialogue and invite them to join the conversation. This forum is intended to garner feedback in a respectful format to further the senior transportation mission. We ask your support in maintaining a professional environment where all are welcome to share their comments! Please do not identify your specific location (e.g., town, county, town) and refrain from making complaints against specific people, agencies, or service providers. Thanks for participating!
12 votes
What can public transit systems do to increase older adult ridership?
9 votes
What strategies have you used to give older adults a significant role in the senior transportation planning process?
9 votes
Dignified and affordable transportation should be available for seniors in private cars for anywhere they want to go, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The rest of us use cars to get where we want to go, when we want to go. Why shouldn't older adults enjoy the same privilege. Now they can. Thanks to ITNAmerica, this mission is becoming a daily reality for senior members of ITN affiliates in over 22 communities in America. ...more »
Dignified and affordable transportation should be available for seniors in private cars for anywhere they want to go, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The rest of us use cars to get where we want to go, when we want to go. Why shouldn't older adults enjoy the same privilege. Now they can. Thanks to ITNAmerica, this mission is becoming a daily reality for senior members of ITN affiliates in over 22 communities in America. It should be available everywhere. Don't you agree?
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8 votes
One way to plan for the transportation needs of older adults who may need to moderate or stop driving, is to assist older adults themselves in mobility transition discussions so they can advocate for and learn to use the modes of transportation that they prefer. Mobility managers in the community can assist to integrate modes and, act as catalysis in the creation of new modes of transportation based on what older adults ...more »
One way to plan for the transportation needs of older adults who may need to moderate or stop driving, is to assist older adults themselves in mobility transition discussions so they can advocate for and learn to use the modes of transportation that they prefer. Mobility managers in the community can assist to integrate modes and, act as catalysis in the creation of new modes of transportation based on what older adults in their locality say they would like. Tools like the Nelson-Nygaard Report on Funding the Public Transportation Needs of an Aging Population can help communities understand the costs of modes and the Dr. Meuser and Dr. Berg-Weger Assessment of Readiness for Mobility Transition can help communities develop mobility planning programs.
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8 votes
Have you discussed how driving personal vehicles and using other modes of transportation can complement each other? What has your community done to help older adults transition from driving by simultaneously using more than one mode?
7 votes
Seniors will benefit if they participate in travel training provided by local agencies. They will learn:
- which public transit services are available in the area
- how to read the bus/train schedules
- which discounts are available for seniors
7 votes
Many seniors are able to drive confidently on local roads but are intimidated by longer trips, heavy traffic, parking and twighlight driving.
By arranging parking at local shopping centers. libraries and senior centers that are served by traditional or community transit, senior drivers can be encouraged to drive locally and use transit for longer distance local and regional trips.
6 votes
How do you identify the transportation needs of older adults in your community? What data sources do you use and how do you use them? What methods do you use to obtain meaningful public involvement?
5 votes
Planning for senior transportation services can present challenges in rural and frontier communities. What are some examples of how you have worked with others to coordinate planning for older adults?
5 votes
With the growth in the senior population, and I am one of them, I believe it is incumbunt on transportaion professionals to offer alternatives to seniors who are driving, and maybe should not be driving. We often wait until that last accident before we take away the keys. My plan is to train seniors to use alternative forms of transportation, taxis being one, before they need it. The Beverly Institute has done research ...more »
With the growth in the senior population, and I am one of them, I believe it is incumbunt on transportaion professionals to offer alternatives to seniors who are driving, and maybe should not be driving. We often wait until that last accident before we take away the keys. My plan is to train seniors to use alternative forms of transportation, taxis being one, before they need it. The Beverly Institute has done research which says it is easier to get someone to use alterntives before they need it, rather than waiting until they have no choice. I am designing a taxi program that is senior friendly, with senior discounts, flyers on how to use a taxi, and also working with senior groups and retirement communities to teach seniors how to use taxis. I am also showing them (seniors) how it is not as expensive as you think, when you consider the cost of owning and operating an automobile.
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4 votes
What steps should be taken to train the operators of the transit ,in order to provide professional service to older adults?Are the operators aware of the needs of older adults as their passengers?
4 votes
Many downtown businesses offer parking passes for patrons. Why not encourage patronage to their businesses through some form of coupon or reimbursement for those who utilize the public transit?
4 votes
Riders Club of America has just successfully completed its second year of operation in the Cedar Rapids IA area. By coordinating volunteer drivers with ambulatory people who no longer drive (55+ or medical condition) we have created a replicable charity structure which can work in any community in the US. Drivers are reimbursed for mileage and riders pay a nominal cost (often 70% less than a taxi). Our pricing ...more »
Riders Club of America has just successfully completed its second year of operation in the Cedar Rapids IA area.
By coordinating volunteer drivers with ambulatory people who no longer drive (55+ or medical condition) we have created a replicable charity structure which can work in any community in the US.
Drivers are reimbursed for mileage and riders pay a nominal cost (often 70% less than a taxi). Our pricing allows us to be self sustaining and pay for a staff of 2.
Because the software coordinates timing and logistics, we have delivered 99.9% of our 13k+ rides with a 98% on time record.
Find out more at ridersclub.co (not .com) or call 319.365.1511
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3 votes
Seniors in suburban and rural neighborhoods need friendly transit service too. Some neighborhoods barely generate enough riders for peak period transit service for commuters - continuing those services midday often isn't affordable or economical. Why not offer flexible mid-day curb-to-curb transportation with low-floor mid-size vehicles - which could also be used for peak period park and ride feeders or human service ...more »
Seniors in suburban and rural neighborhoods need friendly transit service too. Some neighborhoods barely generate enough riders for peak period transit service for commuters - continuing those services midday often isn't affordable or economical. Why not offer flexible mid-day curb-to-curb transportation with low-floor mid-size vehicles - which could also be used for peak period park and ride feeders or human service group rides? This service doesn't have to be provided every day - two mid-days per week for each neighborhood should suffice. This service would connect on a printed schedule to a main-line transit stop as well as a grocery store and medical building. Residents would plan their outings in advance and call for a pickup in front of their home. On the return trip - just tell the driver where to stop - or wait until fixed route PM service begins to come back.
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3 votes
I think that it is important to stress the need for Seniors who are relocating to pay close attention to factors related to transportation when considering a move. For example, just because a residential address contains the city name as part of the street address, it does not necessarily mean that the residence is inside city limits. Addresses are designated by the post office, while the county/parish/city planner ...more »
I think that it is important to stress the need for Seniors who are relocating to pay close attention to factors related to transportation when considering a move.
For example, just because a residential address contains the city name as part of the street address, it does not necessarily mean that the residence is inside city limits. Addresses are designated by the post office, while the county/parish/city planner and city council normally determines how the lines are drawn. An address in Shreveport, Louisiana, does not automatically mean that the residence is located inside the "shreveport" city limits.
Seniors need to be aware, and ask if the address is inside the service area of local public transit services before making these kinds of decsions.
Another factor that has already been brought up on other "idea" threads is to LOOK at the accessibility features of the surroundings before you decide to sign a lease or purchase a home. Are their sidewalks, curb cuts/ramps to safely transition from one block to the next. Are there traffic controlls and cross walks to safely access the inbound and outbound bus routes? How far is it to the bus stop?
From my experience, It is not uncommon for Seniors, and people with disabilities, who are relocating to overlook these factors and more, before making decsions and securing permanent housing.
There are numerous social service agencies in most cities, that can assist with this type of planning for those that may not have the resources themselves.
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3 votes
The average advance reservation paratransit has an operating cost per passenger trips that generally ranges from 4-10 times that of a bus transit ticket. Agencies could provide feeder service and wait to ensure a safe transfer to bus or rail transit, provide the transit ticket and reduce the cost of the trip.
3 votes
How can older adults, advocates for senior-friendly public transportation participate in transit and land use planning? AARP and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) have just published a report with much useful discussion and information relevant to this question: Aging in Place: A State Survey of Livability Policies and Practices, A Research Report by NCST and AARP Public Policy Institute. Also, the ...more »
How can older adults, advocates for senior-friendly public transportation participate in transit and land use planning?
AARP and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) have just published a report with much useful discussion and information relevant to this question: Aging in Place: A State Survey of Livability Policies and Practices, A Research Report by NCST and AARP Public Policy Institute.
Also, the Eno Foundation just tweeted a newspaper article, Good Transit Tied to Smart Land Use, by Bob Patrick, Chair, University of Saskatchewan's College of Arts and Science
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Good+transit+tied+smart+land+plans/5834142/story.html
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3 votes
Coordinating vehicles: Many nursing homes, continuing care retirement communiites, assisted living, and senior housing complexes have their own buses which are often under-used. We need to explore ways that these facilities could coordinate with local public transportation and other human service providers so that these vehicles can be used more efficiently -- to serve more riders, non-residents. Public Transit Awareness ...more »
Coordinating vehicles:
Many nursing homes, continuing care retirement communiites, assisted living, and senior housing complexes have their own buses which are often under-used. We need to explore ways that these facilities could coordinate with local public transportation and other human service providers so that these vehicles can be used more efficiently -- to serve more riders, non-residents.
Public Transit Awareness and Travel Training:
Residents of senior housing and independent living facilities can often make good use of public transportation to take individual trips -- if they know how to use public transit. Also, if they learn about the destinations they can reach , e.g., symphony, farmers' market, by public transit, they have motivation to use it.Ride Connection in Portland, Oregon has good programs to attract these residents. (NCST's website has a description of their Ride Board program.) There may be other models for other communities to use in their planning.
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3 votes
Sustainable senior transportation relies heavily on volunteer drivers, and the number one barrier for volunteers is fear that their insurance will not cover them or that their premium will increase. One very effective way to address this issue without using taxpayer dollars is to assure that public policies are in place to protect vlunteers from unreasonable or unfair increases to their premium just because they volunteer ...more »
Sustainable senior transportation relies heavily on volunteer drivers, and the number one barrier for volunteers is fear that their insurance will not cover them or that their premium will increase. One very effective way to address this issue without using taxpayer dollars is to assure that public policies are in place to protect vlunteers from unreasonable or unfair increases to their premium just because they volunteer to drive others. In view of the enormous unmet need for senior transportation and the scarcity of public resources, policy solutions that remove barriers to the use of private resources (such as volunteer labor) are a practical approach. Such policies have been passed in many states, including Florida, Connecticut, Maine, Kentucky and Illinois.
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2 votes
One thing that gets lost in Sr transportation discussions is improvements to the roadway system to accommodate elders. Many can still drive or insist on it but have some age related difficulties. Larger fonts, left turn arrows, better lighting at intersections, and maintaining the striping are some things that can make it safer for older drivers. Some references are available at: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/olddrive/ ...more »
One thing that gets lost in Sr transportation discussions is improvements to the roadway system to accommodate elders. Many can still drive or insist on it but have some age related difficulties. Larger fonts, left turn arrows, better lighting at intersections, and maintaining the striping are some things that can make it safer for older drivers. Some references are available at:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/olddrive/
I don't condone enabling older drivers beyond their ability to operate a motor vehicle safely but the reality is, until there is mandatory testing for license renewals, elders will continue to drive. I imagine many will continue to drive even if they cannot qualify for a drivers license.
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2 votes
What is this online community's experience with "Car Fit" events? The Alliance for Aging, the area agency on aging for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties in South Florida, partners with the state's Department of Elder Affairs and a local university to organize Car Fit events located throughout the community in public places to help elders "fit" their cars better. Better fitting mirrors, seats, seat belts, etc. lead to ...more »
What is this online community's experience with "Car Fit" events?
The Alliance for Aging, the area agency on aging for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties in South Florida, partners with the state's Department of Elder Affairs and a local university to organize Car Fit events located throughout the community in public places to help elders "fit" their cars better. Better fitting mirrors, seats, seat belts, etc. lead to increased safety on the road for our older drivers.
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2 votes
Many people are interested in older driver safety. Thanks for sharing your questions or recommendations do you have about this important topic.
2 votes
I have developed a non-governmental funded program that is run through a non-profit organization, funded by private corporate and rider funds that is affordable, accessible, adapable and acceptable. This program uses existing transportation providers, paying them a profitable rate and is a win-win-win scenario for the riders, providers and corporate sponsors.
2 votes
Transportation is vital factor relateed to affordable accessible housing.
Low income persons can afford homes in rural areas but without transportation to work they cannot live there.
The cost of transportation to rural areas is HIGH.
Has anyone solved this problem.
2 votes
Older people are consumers. Public and community transportation that they can use to shop benefits local merchants, other businesses.
QUERY: Does anyone have experience with local businesses supporting transportation for older persons?
Below is an URL to NY article in which merchants ask for more transit, less parking.
http://www.globest.com/news/12_238/newyork/retail/-316347.html
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