Livable Communities and Mobility Options

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Livable Communities and Mobility Options
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AARP and Livable Communities

• Social Impact Goal
• People 50 will have independence, choice, and
  control in ways that are beneficial and
  affordable for them and for society as a whole
• Health, Economic Security, Livable Communities

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The Context

• Successful Aging
• The ability to maintain three key behaviors or
  characteristics low risk of disease and
  disease-related disability high mental and
  physical function and active engagement with
  life. MacArthur Foundation Study of Successful
  Aging
• More than maintaining health--focus on what
  people actually do and their satisfaction with
  life.

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The Context The Livable Community

• A livable community is one that has affordable
  and appropriate housing, supportive community
  features and services, and adequate mobility
  options, which together facilitate personal
  independence and the engagement of residents in
  civic and social life.

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Importance of Community Mobility Options

• Mobility options keep us connected
• Staying connected helps us to age successfully
• Empower good decisions about continued driving

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Who needs mobility options?

• Everyone at every age needs to connect with their
  community

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When do we need options?

• When we dont want to drive
• When we cant drive

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The Preferred Mobility Option Driving

• Men and women alike
• In all types of settings suburban, urban,
  rural
• People who drive score better on almost every
  measure of successful aging

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Retirement from Driving

• 1 of 5 people 65 do not drive
• A man who is 70 today is likely to outlive his
  driving years by about 6 years
• A woman who is 70 today is likely to outlive her
  driving years by about 10 years.

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Non-driving Impact on Quality of Life

• One out of three nondrivers 50 miss doing things
  they want to do because they do not have
  transportation
• 2 of drivers 50 miss doing things they want to
  do because they do not have transportation

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Community Mobility Family of Services

• In every community --
• Need diverse options for a diverse population
• Services that are designed and operated to be
  usable by all
• Services that include options for those with
  special needs
• Services the work together transparency for the
  user

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Members of the Family

• Public transportation - in urban, suburban, and
  rural communities
• Buses
• Transportation for individuals with disabilities

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For Example

• The Sunshine Bus St Augustine, FL

• Public bus, operated by St Johns County Council
  on Aging
• No reservations
• Inexpensive - 1.00 one way
• Flexible routing stops at any corner!
• Treat every customer as though they are wealthy

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Members of the Family

• Walking and bicycling
• For recreation, exercise and
• For participating in our daily activities

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For Example

• Belmont NC Stowe Manor
• Wide sidewalks with trees and lighting
• Connecting neighborhood to city amenities
  shopping, banking, parks

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Members of the Family

• Cars and taxis personal door-to-door, or
  door-thru-door transportation services (largely
  urban)

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For Example

• Independent Transportation Network
• Fee-for-service, non-profit, membership org
• Available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
• Uses automobiles
• Relies on private resources
• Does not restrict trip purpose, frequency or
  destination in the service area
• Permits riders to travel alone or with others
• Creates a sense of ownership through membership
  and voluntary participation

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Another example

• Super Senior Taxi Arlington, VA
• Half-priced taxi vouchers for people 70 (20
  books for 10)
• No restriction on use, but supply limited
• Up to 15 books per year as long as supply lasts

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Members of the Family

• Human services transportation vans, buses, cars

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For Example

• West Austin Caregivers Texas
• Volunteer drivers
• Faith-based (as many volunteer programs)
  Faith-In-Action site
• Free rides for medical, shopping, volunteering,
  and other trips
• In business for over 20 years
• Hundreds across the country that should all be
  noted!

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Barriers to Community Mobility

• No options rural, suburban
• Unusable options mismatch between users and
  service
• Layers of regulation, turf
• User perceptions

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Existing Alternatives to Driving
Use limited by user perceptions
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What do we want from mobility options?

• Adaptability to individual needs
• Reliability and security
• Accessibility
• Affordability
• Availability

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Take Away

• 20
• Of people 65 do not drive
• 33
• Of nondrivers 50 miss doing things because they
  do not have transportation
• 2
• Of drivers 50 miss doing things because they do
  not drive

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AARP Resources

• AARP Driver Safety Program promotional materials
  Fact Sheet (D12607), Briefing Paper (D934),
  Student Brochure (D17286), Sponsor Brochure
  (D740) and Volunteer Brochure (D14958).
  Materials available in English and Spanish.
• Enhancing Mobility Options for Older Americans A
  National Action Agenda AARP (D18284).
• Beyond 50.05 A Report to the Nation on Livable
  Communities Creating Environments for Successful
  Aging (D18316 (505)).
• Livable Communities Evaluation Guide Chapters
  for surveying community transportation and
  walkability (D18311).

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AARP Resources

• Promising Approaches for Enhancing Elderly
  Mobility A compilation of programs and
  practices from the United States. (D18390).

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Questions???

• Contact
• Audrey Straight
• AARP Driver Safety Program and Mobility Options
• t) 202-434-3919
• Mobile) 202-431-0841
• Email astraight_at_aarp.org