The intra-urban mobility of the elderly : a study of a suburban Silver Threads Centre, Victoria, B.C.
Date
1975
Authors
Jones, Kenneth Alan
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Abstract
Contact is the principal consideration of an urban existence. In planning for human needs in the city, the urban planner must consider groups of people with regard 'to contact. One clearly recognizable group is the urban elderly, who exhibit a great reliance upon non-automobile means of transportation. Contact and adequate transportation are important to the elderly, for morale level and activity level are related.
Victoria CMA is a retirement centre; the proportion of its population aged over 65 is more than twice the national average. Its transportation system. is CBD-oriented; many people in the expanding suburban areas are, therefore, expected. to experience transportation difficulties. As previous studies, such as those of Carp, have shown, the suburban elderly should also experience the same difficulties, and non-drivers should be less satisfied and less mobile than automobile drivers. In order to investigate the problems involved, members of the Saanich Silver Threads Centre were interviewed and their responses noted.
Members of the Silver Threads Centre displayed. a large mobility profile; even non-drivers averaged. at least one trip from home daily. Correlation coefficients indicate that the most significant factors correlating with trip frequency and satisfaction are mobility factors; socioeconomic and sensory acuity variables ranked second and third in importance. Trips by automobile correlated. positively, and significantly, with both trip frequency and. satisfaction, whereas negative correlates were found with bus and foot mode variables. Those who drive do so for the vast majority of their trips, make more trips than those without automobiles, and are very satisfied with transportation. Those who do not drive rely primarily upon walking, with the remainder of their trips either in a friend's car or with the bus system; they, too, state that they are satisfied., although the level of satisfaction is lower. Although the results were statistically reliable, overall correlation figures were low and great confidence should not be placed in them.
The study is regarded primarily as an exploratory investigation. Before any sound conclusion can be drawn, further investigation is required.