Challenges of a rapidly aging population on transport equity

Abstract

With the decreasing fertility and prolonging life expectancy ever since the Industrial Revolution, the proportion of older people is constantly increasing among the total population. This phenomenon first emerged in developed then gradually extended to developing countries, and the demographic structure has been shifted from younger to older. Population aging will impose pressures on many social issues including economy development, resources allocation, and security system. As one of the basic elements to participate social activities, transport determines older people’s quality of life. How to enhance transport equity for older people to offer them with equal opportunities to social services has become a stern challenge in the 21st century. From a quantity perspective, the increasing older people will lead to growing transport demand arising from this special age group. With regard to service quality, the design of transport infrastructures and facilities should be enhanced so as to facilitate older people’s travel due to their vulnerability. The characteristics of demographic shifts indicate that disability is likely to occur with the increase of old age, thus transport service should be planned and designed to cater for such needs. Most developed regions have set examples on transport policy-making and service improvements. Cases are selected to illustrate best practices for meeting different levels of transport needs among older people from the perspectives of economic input, technology development, policy orientation and social progress, with a view to identifying the ensuing challenges and recommending measures to promote mobility and accessibility in the following decades. Looking forward into the future, older people are expected to actualize self-transcendence need via a universal and sustainable transport system.