| The purpose of this study was to investigate constraints on urban travel experience by the elderly. To understand transportation use and activity participation, a survey of 115 subjects over the age of sixty was conducted in London, Ontario. Instead of trying to predict an individual's behaviour directly, the research uses Hagerstrand's theory of constraints to detect barriers restricting transportation and activity choice. When the sample was divided into three groups, based on the use of specialized transportation and type of residence, it was observed that most people who use specialized transportation still experience many constraints. In particular, the majority of seniors who need specialized transportation rely on taxis to meet their transportation needs. While over half of seniors who live in retirement homes do not have appropriate transportation, people who use specialized transportation indicated a strong need for the assistance of someone. It is recommended that a "user-side" approach, which allows seniors to use taxis at a subsidized rate, would enable short-notice emergency trips, reduce demand on paratransit, fulfill a larger portion of the population's needs, lower costs per trip, and increase access to a wider variety of social, health, and retail services. Following an increased understanding of activity patterns and needs, society must provide convenient and comfortable transportation to the elderly. |
