Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults July 2010

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1 Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults July 2010 Retired Spouses: A National Survey of Adults 55-75

2 Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults Data Collected by Woelfel Research, Inc. Analysis and Report by Teresa A. Keenan, Ph.D. Copyright 2010 AARP Research & Strategic Analysis 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC Reprinting with Permission

3 AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA su Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The views expressed herein are for information, debate, and discussion, and do not necessarily represent official policies of AARP. Acknowledgements The author would like to thank Debra Alvarez, Nancy Bell, Elizabeth Bradley, Lori Cohen, Elinor Ginzler, Adam Goldberg, Kelly Griffin, Robert Hodder, Lani Kawamura, Jana Lynott, Julie Nepveu, Dean Sagar, and Nancy Thompson for their suggestions. She would also like to thank Woelfel Research, Inc. for collecting and tabulating the data. For additional information contact Teresa Keenan at (202) Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults iii

4 Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Background 5 Detailed Findings 5 Awareness, Use, and Attitudes toward Public Transportation 5 Current Driving Behavior and Limits on Driving 11 Walking in Your Community 15 Impressions of Caregivers 19 Paratransit Options 20 Conclusions 21 Appendix A: Annotated Questionnaire 22 Appendix B: Methodological Note 36 Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults iv

5 List of Figures Figure 1: Community Features 7 Figure 2: Types of Transportation Used in Past Two Months Other Than Own Vehicle 9 Figure 3: Driving Alternatives in One s Community 14 Figure 4: Community Aspects that Would Encourage More Walking 17 Figure 5: Locations of Those Receiving Care 19 Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults v

6 List of Tables Table 1: Perceived Availability of Community Features by Age, Gender, and Income Table 2: Use of Transportation Options in Past Two Months by Age, Gender, and Income Table 3: Avoidance of Driving During Particular Times of Day by Age, Gender, and Income Table 4: Driving Alternatives in One s Community by Age, Gender, and Income Table 5: Length of Time to Walk to Community Locations 16 Table 6: Community Aspects that Would Encourage More Walking by Age, Gender, and Income 18 Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults vi

7 Executive Summary In an effort to learn more about how midlife and older adults think about and use the transportation options available to them, in November 2009 AARP Research & Strategic Analysis fielded a telephone survey among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults ages 50 and older. Respondents were asked their awareness, use, and attitudes toward public transportation; their current driving behavior and any limits on their driving; and their walking behavior and the availability of places to walk in their communities. They were also asked if they provide unpaid help to a friend or relative and, if so, what their impressions are about the availability of transportation options for those to whom they provide care. Finally, respondents were asked about their knowledge and use of specialized transportation options in their communities. Key Findings: Awareness, Use, and Attitudes toward Public Transportation Driving is far and away the most common form of transportation, noted by nearly nine in ten respondents. Roughly one in six said they get a ride from family or friends, one in nine said they walk, and one in eleven reported taking public transportation (such as buses, subways, streetcars, or commuter trains) if they need to get somewhere. Only seven percent of respondents mentioned any of the other forms for transportation. More than four in ten respondents said that it is extremely important or very important to them to have a variety of transportation options available in their community. Onethird, however, said it is not very important or not at all important to them to have such options. One-third of respondents rated their community as excellent or very good as a place for individuals to get around and remain active. Three in ten rated it as good, with nearly four in ten rating their community as fair or poor. When asked about community features that help make streets comfortable for all users (including drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists), nearly eight in ten respondents said that adequate enforcement of posted speed limits occurs in their community. Somewhat fewer noted that adequate street lighting, intersections with safe crosswalks for pedestrians, and adequate sidewalks are available in their community. When asked more specific questions about their personal use of public transportation, four in ten respondents reported there is public transportation within a 10-minute walk of their home. But, nearly half said it would be extremely difficult or very difficult to walk to the public transportation stop nearest their home. More than eight in ten respondents reported that they have never used public transportation (such as public buses, subways, streetcars, trolleys, or commuter trains) in the last two months. In contrast, six percent of respondents said they were frequent users of public transportation, using it once a week or more frequently. Getting a ride with a friend or family member was the most frequent type of transportation noted as an alternative to their own vehicle, reported by two-thirds of respondents. Walking and bicycling were the only other types of transportation options cited by more than one in ten respondents. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 1

8 Perhaps because they are not frequent users of public transportation, more than four in ten respondents said they are not very or not at all concerned that budgetary cuts at the local state or national level will reduce the availability of community transportation options. However, one-quarter of respondents said they are somewhat concerned and one-third of respondents are either extremely or very concerned that budget cuts will reduce the availability of community transportation options. Current Driving Behavior and Limits on Driving Nearly nine in ten respondents said they drive a car or other motor vehicle. Among them, more than half reported driving every day of the week, with an additional onefifth driving five or six days a week, and one in six driving three or four days a week. Only two percent of respondents who drive said they drive less than once a week. More than half of drivers reported doing most of their driving in the morning (before noon), while roughly three in ten said they drive most often in the afternoon (from noon to 5 pm). Only five percent of drivers reported driving most often in the evenings (after 5 pm but before 9 pm) and two percent reported driving most often at night (after 9 pm). Although four in ten drivers said they do not avoid driving at particular times, among those who do, one-third said they avoid night driving (after 9 pm), one-quarter avoid evening driving (between 5 pm and 9 pm), one in nine avoid afternoon driving (between noon and 5 pm), and one in twelve avoid driving in the morning (before noon). When asked about their round-trips, more than four in ten drivers reported driving at least once a day, including the quarter who said they drive once a day and the fifth who said they drive several times a day. Another half of the drivers reported driving at least once a week, including the quarter that drive 4-6 times per week, the fifth who drive 2-3 times a week, and the one in fourteen who drive once a week. Notably, only five percent of drivers reported driving less frequently than once a week. About one-third of drivers said they were long-distance drivers, driving at least 100 miles in a typical week. Another quarter of drivers reported driving at least 50 but less than 75 miles in a typical week or at least 75 but less than 100 miles in a typical week. In contrast, one-quarter of drivers said they drove at least 25 but less than 50 miles and roughly one in six said they drove less than 25 miles in a typical week. Among all respondents, more than six in ten said they never miss an activity that they would like to do because they limit their driving or do not drive and one in six said they rarely do so. Similarly, when asked what types of activities they are doing less of or are not doing because they limit their driving or do not drive, more than six in ten reported not limiting or not stopping driving. However, about one-fifth of respondents said they frequently or occasionally do miss activities that they would like to do because of driving limitations. Respondents were about evenly split in their responses when asked if they had changed the ways they travel as a result of the recent downturn in the economy, with one half having changed the ways they travel either a great deal or somewhat and the other half having changed their travel habits not very much or not at all. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 2

9 When asked about the availability of driving alternatives in their community, more than six in ten respondents reported having sidewalks that allow one to walk rather than drive places. More than half said there were buses or trains or other types of public transportation as well as affordable transportation services designed for older adults in their community. Somewhat fewer noted having bike paths or lanes, park and rides, carpooling or rideshare programs, or volunteer driver programs in their community. Walking in Your Community About three in ten respondents reported walking at least once a week, including the one in twelve respondents who walk every day, the one in nine who walk several times a week, and the one in ten who walk once a week. However, more than half said they never walk in order to go places they frequent in their community. Although one in eight respondents said they do not walk in their community, among those who do, there is a clear split between those who rate their community as very or somewhat easy to walk to specific destinations and those who rate their community as very or somewhat difficult to do so. When community walkers were asked how long it would take them to walk to specific locations in their community the library, the grocery store, the bank, the coffee shop, the drug store, and the post office only about one in ten respondents said they could walk to them in less than ten minutes. Nearly six in ten respondents able to walk said that having places to go within walking distance (such as a store, library, or post office) would encourage them to walk more than they currently do, while another four in ten said having places to sit down or safer conditions would encourage them to walk more. More than four in ten respondents said they are either extremely or very satisfied with the streets in their community (in terms of safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, their lighting, their traffic signals, and their cross-walks). An additional one-third is somewhat satisfied. However, one-fifth of respondents are not very or not at all satisfied with the streets in their community in terms of these aspects. Impressions of Caregivers Less than one-fifth of respondents said that they are currently providing care to a friend or relative 50 years of age or older, with younger respondents more likely than older ones to say they are doing so. One-quarter of respondents providing care to someone age 50 or older reported that the individual to whom they were providing care lived with them, while more than half noted that the individual lived within 20 minutes of their home and one in eight said the individual lived between 20 minutes and one hour away. One in eleven respondents said that the individual to whom they provide care lives one or two hours away or more than two hours away from their home. Six in ten respondents who provide care to someone age 50 or older reported visiting the individual more than once a week, while roughly one-fifth said they visited once a week. Among the roughly one-fifth of less frequent visitors, seven percent said they visit a few times a month, six percent said once a month, three percent said a few times a year, and two percent said they visit less than once a year. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 3

10 Individuals receiving care do not cluster in any particular area, with one-fifth living in urban areas, one-quarter in suburban areas, three in ten in small towns, and one-fifth in rural areas. According to those who provide care, one-third of those to whom they provide care drive a car or other motor vehicle. The remaining two-thirds do not drive and are reliant on those providing care to drive them or to find suitable alternatives to get them where they need to go. Notably, roughly nine in ten care providers said the most common form of transportation they use when providing care is to drive. When asked about community transportation options other than their own car or motor vehicle a full quarter of care providers said there is no alternative to driving. Additionally, roughly three in ten said there are not very many options, while onequarter said they are some options. Similarly, when asked about the accessibility of community transportation options for the individual to whom they provide care, roughly one-quarter of care providers rated the options as not at all accessible. One-fifth rated them as not very accessible and more than one-quarter rated them as somewhat accessible. However, nearly a quarter of care providers said they would rate transportation options in their community as either extremely or very accessible to their care recipient. One-third of care providers are extremely or very concerned that budgetary cuts at the local, state, or national level will reduce the availability of public transportation options in their community such that their caregiving will be affected. However, another third are either not very or not at all concerned that such cuts with affect their caregiving responsibilities. When asked how helpful it would be to them if the person to whom they provide care had reliable community transportation options, nearly half of care providers said it would be either extremely or very helpful. Nearly three in ten care providers, however, said that reliable community transportation options for their care recipient would either be not very or not at all helpful to them. Paratransit Options When respondents were given a description of paratransit, or Dial-a-Ride services, and asked about their familiarity with and use of such services, seven in ten respondents said they were not very or not at all familiar with these services in their community. Among the four percent of respondents who said they had at some point received a determination of eligibility to use Dial-a-Ride or other paratransit services, eight in ten reported knowing how to access these services, but roughly four in ten said they had not at all used them. They did acknowledge the utility of such services, however, with nearly all saying it is extremely, very, or somewhat important to them to have paratransit services available in their community. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 4

11 Background In November 2009, AARP Research & Strategic Analysis contracted with Woelfel Research, Inc. to field a telephone survey among a nationally representative sample of adults ages 50 and older to learn more about how they think about and use transportation options 1,2. In this survey, respondents were asked their awareness, use, and attitudes toward public transportation; their current driving behavior and any limits on their driving; and their walking behavior and the availability of places to walk in their communities. They were also asked if they provide unpaid help to a friend or relative and, if so, what their impressions are about the availability of transportation options for those to whom they provide care. Finally, respondents were asked about their knowledge and use of specialized transportation options in their communities. Detailed Findings 3 Awareness, Use, and Attitudes toward Public Transportation Driving is far and away the most common form of transportation, noted by nearly nine in ten (87%) respondents. Roughly one in six (16%) said they get a ride from family or friends, one in nine (11%) said they walk, and one in eleven (9%) reported taking public transportation (such as buses, subways, streetcars, or commuter trains) if they need to get somewhere. Only seven percent of respondents mentioned any of the other forms for transportation, including riding a bike (2%), flying (2%), taking taxis (1%), taking a senior or community van (1%), or taking transportation provided to persons with disabilities who cannot use public transportation (1%) 4. Men (91% vs. 84%), those ages (90% vs. 83% of 65+) and those with annual household incomes of $30,000 or more (92% for those with incomes of $30,000 to $74,999 and 98% for those with incomes of $75,000 or more vs. 74% for those with incomes less than $30,000) are more likely to report driving themselves than are their counterparts. 1 The survey was fielded between November 4 and November 18, At the conclusion of the fielding period, responses had been received from 1,000 individuals. The sampling error is +/- three percentage points at the 95% confidence level. This means that in 95 out of 100 samples of this size, the results would fall in a range of no more than three percentage points of what would have been obtained if every person age 50 or older had been surveyed. 2 Data were weighted by age and gender to reflect the U.S. population age 50 and older. 3 All respondents in this study are ages 50 and over with more than half (54%) between the ages of and more than four in ten (42%) ages 65+. Somewhat more than half were women (55%) and slightly less than half were men (45%). More than eight in ten (85%) are white, non-hispanic; one in twelve (8%) are black, non-hispanic; two percent are Hispanic. Roughly four in ten respondents had a high school education or less (39%). Slightly more than one-quarter (28%) had some college or technical training and nearly one-third (32%) had a college or post-graduate education. Half (50%) were not AARP members. Nearly three in ten (28%) have household incomes of less than $30,000 per year, while roughly one in six (17%) have household incomes of $30,000-$49,999 per year. Thirteen percent reported an annual household income of $50,000-$74,999, while one-fifth (19%) reported an annual household income of $75,000 or more. 4 These figures are remarkably similar to those reported in the 2002 AARP report, Understanding Senior Transportation: Report and Analysis of a Survey of Consumers Age 50+. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 5

12 In contrast, women (23% vs. 9%), those ages 65 and older (23% vs. 10%), and those with incomes of less than $30,000 (29% vs. 11% for those with incomes of $30,000 to $74,999 and 6% for those with incomes of $75,000 or more) are more likely to say they get a ride from a friend or family member. More than four in ten (45%) respondents said that it is extremely important (18%) or very important (27%) to them to have a variety of transportation options available in their community. One-third (35%), however, said it is not very important (18%) or not at all important (17%) to them to have such options. Women are more likely than men to say that having a variety of transportation options available in their community is extremely or very important to them (53% vs. 35%). Men, on the other hand, are more likely to say the exact opposite: having such options is not very or not at all important to them (44% vs. 28%). While there are no age differences in the importance of having a variety of transportation options in one s community, less affluent respondents are more likely than more affluent ones to say such options are extremely or very important to them (51% for those with incomes less than $30,000 and 44% for those with incomes between $30,000 and $74,999 vs. 35% for those with incomes of $75,000 or more). Although speculative, it may be that the less affluent respondents are less able to afford purchasing a car or other motor vehicle, insuring it, and keeping it gassed and running smoothly and are therefore more dependent upon, and more concerned about, transportation options in their community. One-third (32%) of respondents rated their community as excellent (10%) or very good (22%) as a place for individuals to get around and remain active. Three in ten (30%) rated it as good, with nearly four in ten (37%) rating their community as fair (21%) or poor (16%). There are no gender or income differences in respondents rating of their community as a place to get around and remain active. But, older respondents are more likely than younger ones to rate their community as either excellent or very good (37% vs. 26%). When asked about community features that help make streets comfortable for all users (including drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists), nearly eight in ten (79%) respondents said that adequate enforcement of posted speed limits occurs in their community (see Figure 1). Somewhat fewer noted that adequate street lighting (72%), intersections with safe crosswalks for pedestrians (68%), and adequate sidewalks (66%) are available in their community. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 6

13 Figure 1 Community Features (n=1,000) Adequate enforcement of posted speed limits 79% Adequate street lighting 72% Intersections with safe crosswalks for pedestrians 68% Adequate sidewalks 66% Accessible public transportation 50% A safe place for pedestrians to wait midway when crossing a wide street 46% Adequate bike accomodations 42% A comfortable place to wait for the bus 38% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults, July 2010 Half (50%) of the respondents noted that there is accessible public transportation in their community, while roughly four in ten said there are safe places for pedestrians to wait when crossing a wide street (46%), adequate bike accommodations (42%), and comfortable places to wait for buses (38%). Younger respondents are more likely to report that there are intersections with safe crosswalks for pedestrians and safe places to wait when crossing wide streets (see Table 1). In terms of gender differences in the perceived availability of community features, there is only one: men are more likely than women to note the availability of intersections with safe crosswalks for pedestrians in their community. Finally, in general, more affluent respondents are more likely than less affluent ones to cite the availability of several community features in their own communities. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 7

14 Table 1 Perceived Availability of Community Features By Age, Gender, and Income 5 Age Gender Income Male Female < $30K $30K- $75K+ <$75K A B C D E F G (n=543) (n=417) (n=448) (n=552) (n=281) (n=302) (n=186) Adequate enforcement of 80% 78% 79% 79% 74% 81% e 85% e speed limits Adequate street lighting 70% 74% 72% 72% 66% 74% e 76% e Intersections with safe 71% b 63% 73% d 64% 59% 69% e 74% e crosswalks for pedestrians Adequate sidewalks 66% 65% 67% 65% 59% 66% 71% e Accessible public 50% 49% 52% 49% 46% 50% 52% transportation Safe place to wait when 49% b 43% 50% 43% 46% 43% 53% f crossing Adequate bike 41% 43% 45% 40% 37% 42% 51% ef accommodations Comfortable place to wait for bus 39% 37% 40% 38% 33% 41% e 40% When asked more specific questions about their personal use of public transportation, four in ten (42%) respondents reported there is public transportation within a 10-minute walk of their home. In contrast, more than half (55%) reported that public transportation is less accessible to them. Although there are no age or income differences in having public transportation within a 10-minute walk, women are more likely than men to say there is not a transportation stop that close to their home (58% vs. 51%). Similarly, nearly half (48%) of respondents said it would be extremely difficult (39%) or very difficult (9%) to walk to the public transportation stop nearest their home. Another one in eleven (9%) respondents said the walk would be somewhat difficult for them, while four percent noted they are unable to walk. In contrast, one-third (34%) of respondents said it would be not very difficult (11%) or not at all difficult (23%) to walk to the nearest stop. Although there are no gender differences in perceived difficulty in walking to the nearest transportation stop, perhaps not surprisingly, younger respondents are more likely than older ones to say it would be not very difficult or not at all difficult for them to walk to the public transportation stop nearest their home (38% vs. 27%). Further, respondents with annual household incomes between $30,000 and $74,999 are more likely than those with incomes of less than $30,000 to report such a walk would be not very difficult or not at all difficult for them (38% vs. 29%). 5 How to Read the Tables: Bold face percents in columns (which represent demographic subgroups) are significantly higher than percents in adjacent columns. Superscripts ( a/b, c/d, e/f/g ) indicate those columns in which there is a statistically significant difference. Dashes (----) indicate no responses were reported. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 8

15 More than eight in ten (85%) respondents reported that they have never used public transportation (such as public buses, subways, streetcars, trolleys, or commuter trains) in the last two months. In contrast, six percent of respondents said they were frequent users of public transportation, using it once a week or more frequently (2% about once a week, 2% two or more times per week, and 2% every day) 6. Notably, older respondents are more likely than younger ones to say they have never used public transportation (90% vs. 83%). Additionally, respondents in the middle income category with incomes between $30,000 and $74,999 are more likely than those at either end of the income spectrum to report never using public transportation (90% vs. 83% for those with incomes of less than $30,000 and 79% for those with incomes of $75,000 or more). Getting a ride with a friend or family member was the most frequent type of transportation noted as an alternative to their own vehicle, reported by two-thirds (67%) of respondents (see Figure 2). Walking (48%) and bicycling (13%) were the only other types of transportation options cited by more than one in ten respondents. Figure 2 Types of Transportation Used in Past Two Months Other Than Own Vehicle (n=1,000) Got a ride with a friend or family member Walk 48% 67% Bicycle 13% Public bus 9% Taxi 8% Senior transportation service Public car or van for those with disabilities or special needs 7% 7% Subway or train 5% Volunteer driver program 3% Light rail 3% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults, July These figures are similar to those cited in the 2002 AARP report, Understanding Senior Transportation: Report and Analysis of a Survey of Consumers Age 50+. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 9

16 As noted in Table 2, younger respondents are more likely than older ones to report having walked, bicycled, taken a public bus, used light rail, or taken a subway or train in the past two months. Women are more likely than men to say they have gotten a ride with a friend or family member, taken senior transportation services, or taken a public van or car for those with disabilities or special needs. Finally, less affluent respondents are more likely than more affluent ones to report having ridden with a friend or family member or to have taken a public bus, senior transportation services, or a public van or car for those with disabilities or special needs. They are also more likely to say they have used a volunteer driver program in the past two months. In contrast, more affluent respondents are more likely to say they have walked or bicycled to their destination in the past two months or to have ridden light rail. Table 2 Use of Transportation Options in Past Two Months By Age, Gender, and Income Age Gender Income Male Female < $30K $30K- $75K+ <$75K A B C D E F G (n=543) (n=417) (n=448) (n=552) (n=281) (n=302) (n=186) Ride with friend or family 68% 64% 62% 70% c 71% g 65% 59% member Walk 55% b 39% 50% 47% 43% 49% 55% e Bicycle 18% b 7% 17% 10% 8% 16% e 19% e Public bus 10% b 5% 9% 8% 13% fg 6% 6% Taxi 9% 8% 9% 8% 11% 7% 11% Senior transportation 5% 8% 5% 8% c 10% fg 5% 4% services Public van or car for those 7% 7% 5% 9% c 13% fg 5% 3% with disabilities Subway or train 6% b 3% 6% 5% 7% 4% 8% Volunteer driver program 3% 4% 3% 3% 5% g 3% 2% Light rail 4% b 1% 3% 2% 2% 2% 6% ef Perhaps because they are not frequent users of public transportation, more than four in ten (41%) respondents said they are not very concerned (16%) or not at all concerned (25%) that budgetary cuts at the local state or national level will reduce the availability of community transportation options. However, one-quarter (24%) of respondents said they are somewhat concerned and one-third are either extremely concerned (13%) or very concerned (20%) that budget cuts will reduce the availability of community transportation options. Women are more likely than men to say they are extremely concerned or very concerned (38% vs. 27%) that budgetary cuts will affect the availability of community transportation options. On the other hand, men and the most affluent respondents are more likely to report being not very concerned or not at all concerned about such budget cuts (gender: 49% vs. 34%; income: 49% vs. 36% for those with incomes between $30,000 and $74,999). Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 10

17 Current Driving Behavior and Limits on Driving Nearly nine in ten (89%) respondents said they drive a car or other motor vehicle. Among them, more than half (52%) reported driving every day of the week, with an additional onefifth (20%) driving five or six days a week, and one in six (16%) driving three or four days a week. Only two percent of respondents who drive said they drive less than once a week. Men (93% vs. 87%), those ages (93% vs. 86%), and those with annual household incomes of $30,000 or more (94% for those with incomes between $30,000 and $74,999 and 98% for those with incomes of $75,000 or more vs. 80% for those with incomes less than $30,000) are more likely than their demographic counterparts to say they drive a car or other motor vehicle. They are also more likely to report driving the most frequently, that is, every day of the week (gender: 64% vs. 42%; age: 61% vs. 41%; income: 58% and 66% vs. 36%). Women (21% vs. 10%), those ages 65 or older (25% vs. 10%), and those with incomes of less than $30,000 (25% vs. 11% for both groups) are more likely to report driving three or four days a week. More than half (55%) of drivers reported doing most of their driving in the morning (before noon), while roughly three in ten (28%) said they drive most often in the afternoon (from noon to 5 pm). Only five percent of drivers reported driving most often in the evenings (after 5 pm but before 9 pm) and two percent reported driving most often at night (after 9 pm). Respondents with incomes between $30,000 and $74,999 are more likely than those with incomes of $75,000 or more (59% vs. 48%) to report doing most of their driving in the mornings (before noon). Women are more likely than men (33% vs. 22%) and respondents with incomes of less than $30,000 are more likely than those with incomes between $30,000 and $74,999 (34% vs. 24%) to report doing most of their driving in the afternoon (from noon to 5 pm). Respondents ages are more likely than those 65 and older (8% vs. 2%) to report doing most of their driving in the evenings (after 5 pm but before 9 pm). Although four in ten (39%) drivers said they do not avoid driving at particular times, among those who do, one-third (33%) said they avoid night driving (after 9 pm), one-quarter (25%) avoid evening driving (between 5 pm and 9 pm), one in nine (11%) avoid afternoon driving (between noon and 5 pm), and one in twelve (8%) avoid driving in the morning (before noon). As noted in Table 3, men, younger respondents, and more affluent respondents are more likely to say they do not avoid driving at particular times of the day. In contrast, women, respondents ages 65 and older and less affluent respondents are more likely to report avoiding evening and night time driving. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 11

18 Table 3 Avoidance of Driving During Particular Times of Day By Age, Gender, and Income Age Gender Income Male Female < $30K $30K- $75K+ <$75K A B C D E F G (n=503) (n=358) (n=415) (n=479) (n=225) (n=283) (n=182) Mornings (< noon) 9% b 5% 8% 8% 8% 5% 12% Afternoon (12-5 pm) 11% 11% 12% 10% 13% 13% 7% Evenings (5-9 pm) 21% 29% a 10% 30% c 31% g 24% 18% Nights (>9 pm) 25% 44% a 25% 40% c 45% gf 32% f 19% Weekends 3% 4% 2% 4% 4% 3% 2% Do not avoid driving at particular times 45% b 31% 49% d 31% 23% 38% e 55% ef When asked about their round-trips, more than four in ten (43%) drivers reported driving at least once a day, including the quarter (24%) who said they drive once a day and the fifth (19%) who said they drive several times a day. Another half (49%) of the drivers reported driving at least once a week, including the quarter (23%) who drive 4-6 times per week, the fifth (19%) who drive 2-3 times a week, and the one in fourteen (7%) who drive once a week. Notably, only five percent of drivers reported driving less frequently than once a week. Similar to their responses regarding avoidance of driving, when asked about their round-trips, men, younger respondents, and more affluent respondents report driving most frequently, namely, several times a day (gender: 26% vs. 13%; age: 22% vs. 15%; income: 28% vs. 14% for those with incomes less than $30,000 and 18% for those with incomes between $30,000 and $74,999). About one-third (32%) of drivers said they were long-distance drivers, driving at least 100 miles in a typical week. Another quarter of drivers reported driving at least 50 but less than 75 miles in a typical week (14%) or at least 75 but less than 100 miles in a typical week (11%). In contrast, one-quarter (24%) of drivers said they drove at least 25 but less than 50 miles and roughly one in six (17%) said they drove less than 25 miles in a typical week. As with the questions related to avoidance of driving and round trips, when asked about miles driven in a typical week, men, younger respondents, and more affluent respondents report driving more miles (gender: 34% vs. 14%; age: 29% vs. 15%; income: 25% for those with incomes between $30,000 and $74,999 and 36% for those with incomes of $75,000 or more vs. 14% for those with incomes of less than $30,000). Among all respondents, more than six in ten (62%) said they never miss an activity that they would like to do because they limit their driving or do not drive and one in six (17%) said they rarely do so. However, about one-fifth (21%) of respondents said they frequently (7%) or occasionally (14%) do miss activities that they would like to do because of driving limitations. Men (67% vs. 57%) and respondents with annual household incomes of $30,000 or more (60% and 77% vs. 51%) are more likely than their demographic counterparts to report never missing an activity because they limit their driving or do not drive. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 12

19 Similarly, when asked what types of activities they are doing less of or are not doing because they limit their driving or do not drive, more than six in ten (61%) reported not limiting or not stopping driving. Just as with the previous question, men (68% vs. 56%) and respondents with annual household incomes of $30,000 or more (62% and 77% vs. 54%) are more likely than their demographic counterparts to say they have not limited their driving or do not drive. However, among those who have self-regulated their driving, taken together about onequarter (23%) of respondents reported cutting back on shopping (other than for groceries or medications) (5%), going to community activities (5%), getting together with family and friends (5%), grocery shopping (4%), going to faith-based activities (3%), going to doctor s visits (1%) or volunteering in the community (1%). Respondents were about evenly split in their responses when asked if they had changed the ways they travel as a result of the recent downturn in the economy. One half (51%) said they had changed the ways they travel either a great deal (15%) or somewhat (36%); in contrast, about half (48%) said they had changed the ways they travel not very much (16%) or not at all (32%). Women and less affluent respondents are more likely to report having changed the ways they travel a great deal as a result of changes in the economy (gender: 18% vs. 11%; income: 24% of those with incomes of less than $30,000 and 13% for those with incomes between $30,000 and $74,999 vs. 4% for those with incomes of $75,000 or more). When asked about the availability of driving alternatives in their community, more than six in ten (62%) respondents reported having sidewalks that allow one to walk rather than drive places (see Figure 3). More than half said there were buses or trains or other types of public transportation (55%) as well as affordable transportation services designed for older adults (55%) in their community. Somewhat fewer noted having bike paths or lanes (48%), park and rides (40%), carpooling or rideshare programs (35%), or volunteer driver programs (30%) in their community. In general, younger respondents, men, and more affluent respondents are more likely to report having a variety of driving alternatives in their community (see Table 4). Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 13

20 Figure 3 Driving Alternatives in One s Community (n=1,000) Sidewalks that allow you to walk rather than drive places 62% Buses or trains (or other public transportation) 55% Affordable transportation services designed for older adults 55% Bike paths or lanes 48% Park 'n rides 40% Carpooling or ri deshare programs 35% Volunteer driver programs 30% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults, July 2010 Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 14

21 Table 4 Driving Alternatives in One s Community By Age, Gender, and Income Age Gender Income Male Female < $30K $30K- $75K+ <$75K A B C D E F G (n=543) (n=417) (n=448) (n=552) (n=281) (n=302) (n=186) Sidewalks 65% b 56% 65% d 59% 56% 64% e 66% e Buses or trains 58% b 51% 55% 55% 49% 58% e 60% e Affordable services for 53% 57% 56% 55% 57% 56% 59% older adults Bike paths or lanes 50% 46% 50% 46% 41% 52% e 57% e Park n Rides 45% b 34% 44% d 37% 35% 43% e 50% e Carpooling 40% b 28% 41% d 29% 30% 37% e 42% e Volunteer driver programs 29% 31% 28% 32% 26% 37% e 28% Walking in Your Community About three in ten (29%) respondents reported walking at least once a week, including the one in twelve (8%) who walk every day, the one in nine (11%) who walk several times a week, and the one in ten (10%) who walk once a week. However, more than half (53%) said they never walk in order to go places they frequent in their community. Women (56% vs. 48%) and respondents ages 65 and older (58% vs. 49%) are more likely than their demographic counterparts to report never walking. Although one in eight (12%) respondents said they do not walk in their community, among those who do, there is a clear split (42% vs. 44%) between those who rate their community as very easy (23%) or somewhat easy (19%) to walk to specific destinations and those who rate their community as very difficult (29%) or somewhat difficult (15%) to do so. There is only one demographic difference in respondents rating of their community: younger respondents are more likely than older ones to say it is either very easy or somewhat easy to walk in their community (45% vs. 37%) Community walkers were asked how long it would take them to walk to specific locations in their community the library, the grocery store, the bank, the coffee shop, the drug store, and the post office. For each of the six locations they were asked about, only about one in ten respondents said they could walk to them in less than ten minutes (see Table 5). Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 15

22 About how long would it take you to walk to? Table 5 Length of Time to Walk to Community Locations (Those able to walk in community; n=840) < 10 minutes 10-<30 minutes 30-<60 minutes 60 + minutes Don t Know Mean Minutes A library 8% 24% 20% 25% 21% 48 A grocery store 10% 37% 21% 17% 14% 38 A bank 11% 31% 19% 21% 18% 43 A coffee shop 12% 31% 17% 14% 24% 36 A drug store 10% 34% 19% 17% 19% 42 A post office 9% 30% 23% 20% 16% 46 When respondents who were able to walk were asked about several aspects of their community that might encourage them to walk more, nearly six in ten (57%) said that having places to go within walking distance (such as a store, library, or post office) would encourage them to walk more than they currently do (see Figure 4). Another four in ten said having places to sit down (42%) or safer conditions (40%) would encourage them to walk more. In general, women, younger respondents, and less affluent respondents are more likely to say the presence of these community aspects would encourage them to do more walking than they currently do (see Table 6). Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 16

23 Figure 4 Community Aspects that Would Encourage More Walking (Those able to walk; n=959) Places to go within walking distance 57% Places to sit down (ie., benches) 42% Safer conditions 40% Sidewalks or walkways in better condition 36% More sidewalks or walkways 34% Better lighting A buffer between sidewalks and moving cars Clearly marked crosswalks 32% 32% 30% Less traffic 30% Slower traffic 29% Wider sidewalks 28% A longer walk cycle to cross the street 25% More trees and shade 23% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults, July 2010 Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 17

24 Table 6 Community Aspects that Would Encourage More Walking Among those Able to Walk By Age, Gender, and Income Age Gender Income Male Female < $30K $30K- $75K+ <$75K A B C D E F G (n=503) (n=358) (n=415) (n=479) (n=225) (n=283) (n=182) Places to go within 65% b 46% 57% 56% 55% 56% 67% ef walking distance Places to sit down (i.e., 42% 42% 37% 46% d 51% fg 42% g 32% benches) Safer conditions 45% b 32% 33% 45% d 42% 40% 40% Sidewalks or walkways 41% b 29% 31% 39% d 40% 37% 36% in better condition More sidewalks or 36% 32% 28% 39% d 35% 37% 36% walkways Better lighting 37% b 26% 27% 36% d 36% 33% 30% Buffer between 35% b 26% 27% 34% d 29% 32% 35% sidewalks and moving cars Clearly marked 32% b 26% 24% 34% d 33% g 31% 24% crosswalks Less traffic 32% 28% 26% 34% d 33% 34% 26% Slower traffic 32% b 25% 24% 34% d 31% g 32% g 23% Wider sidewalks 31% b 23% 20% 34% d 32% g 27% 23% Longer walk cycle to 30% b 20% 20% 28% d 26% g 28% g 18% cross street More trees and shade 25% 20% 20% 25% d 25% 26% g 18% More than four in ten (42%) respondents said they are either extremely satisfied (13%) or very satisfied (29%) with the streets in their community (in terms of safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, their lighting, their traffic signals, and their cross-walks). An additional onethird (34%) are somewhat satisfied. However, one-fifth (22%) of respondents are not very satisfied (11%) or not at all satisfied (11%) with the streets in their community in terms of these aspects. Men are more likely than women (47% vs. 36%) to report being extremely satisfied or very satisfied with the streets in their community. Respondents with annual household incomes of less than $30,000 are more likely than those with annual household incomes of $75,000 or more to report being not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with their streets in their community (28% vs. 16%). Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 18

25 Impressions of Caregivers Less than one-fifth (17%) of respondents said that they are currently providing care to a friend or relative 50 years of age or older, with younger respondents more likely than older ones (21% vs. 12%) to say they are doing so. However, their experience is illustrative One-quarter (26%) of respondents providing care to someone age 50 or older reported that the individual to whom they were providing care lived with them, while more than half (53%) noted that the individual lived within 20 minutes of their home and one in eight (12%) said the individual lived between 20 minutes and one hour away. One in eleven respondents said that the individual to whom they provide care lives one or two hours away (4%) or more than two hours away (5%) from their home. Notably, there are no demographic differences in the distance between the caregiver and the person to whom they are providing care. Six in ten (60%) respondents who provide care to someone age 50 or older reported visiting the individual more than once a week, while roughly one-fifth (18%) said they visited once a week 7. Among the roughly one-fifth (18%) of less frequent visitors, seven percent said they visit a few times a month, six percent said once a month, three percent said a few times a year, and two percent said they visit less than once a year. As shown in Figure 5, individuals receiving care do not cluster in any particular area, with onefifth (20%) living in urban areas, one-quarter (26%) in suburban areas, three in ten (30%) in small towns, and one-fifth (22%) in rural areas. Figure 5 Locations of Those Receiving Care (n=173) Suburban area 26% Small town 30% Urban area 20% Don't Know 2% Rural area 22% Source: Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults, July For this and the remaining caregiving questions in this section, the base of respondents is too small to allow for demographic comparisons. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 19

26 According to those who provide care, one-third (34%) of those to whom they provide care drive a car or other motor vehicle. The remaining two-thirds (66%) do not drive and are reliant on those providing care to drive them or to find suitable alternatives to get them where they need to go. Notably, roughly nine in ten (89%) care providers said the most common form of transportation they use when providing care is to drive. When asked about community transportation options other than their own car or motor vehicle a full quarter (26%) of care providers said there is no alternative to driving. Additionally, roughly three in ten (29%) said there are not very many options, while onequarter (25%) said they are some options. In contrast, one in eight (12%) care providers said there are a great deal of transportation options that enable them to provide care. Similarly, when asked about the accessibility of community transportation options for the individual to whom they provide care, roughly one-quarter (23%) of care providers rated the options as not at all accessible. One-fifth (20%) rated them as not very accessible and more than one-quarter (27%) rated them as somewhat accessible. However, nearly a quarter (23%) of care providers said they would rate transportation options in their community as either extremely accessible (5%) or very accessible (18%) to their care recipient. One-third (32%) of care providers are extremely concerned (13%) or very concerned (19%) that budgetary cuts at the local, state, or national level will reduce the availability of public transportation options in their community such that their caregiving will be affected. However, another third (33%) are either not very concerned (11%) or not at all concerned (22%) that such cuts with affect their caregiving responsibilities. When asked how helpful it would be to them if the person to whom they provide care had reliable community transportation options, nearly half (49%) of care providers said it would be either extremely helpful (23%) or very helpful (26%). Nearly three in ten (28%) care providers, however, said that reliable community transportation options for their care recipient would either be not very helpful (4%) or not at all helpful (24%) to them. Paratransit Options Respondents were given the following description of paratransit, or Dial-a-Ride services, and asked about their familiarity with and use of such services. Paratransit, or Dial-a-Ride, is an alternative mode of transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules and is often used by individuals with disabilities who are unable to use a regular bus. Paratransit services may vary considerably on the degree of flexibility they provide their customers. At their simplest they may consist of a special taxi or small bus (able to accommodate wheelchairs) that will stop to pick up or discharge passengers on request. At the other end of the spectrum, the most flexible paratransit systems offer on-demand call-up door-to-door service from place to place in a service area. Seven in ten (69%) respondents said they were not very (14%) or not at all familiar (55%) with paratransit options in their community. About one in eight (12%) reported being either extremely familiar (4%) or very familiar (8%) with such services. Transportation Use and Options of Midlife and Older Adults 20