Walking to the bus: perceived versus actual walking distance to bus stops for older adults |
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Authors: | Daniel Baldwin Hess |
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Institution: | (1) School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, New York, NY, USA |
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Abstract: | The walking trip from an origin or destination to a bus stop or transit station can be a barrier to riding transit for older
adults (over age 60) who may walk more slowly than others or experience declining physical mobility. This article examines
the relationship between transit ridership and proximity to fixed-route transit stations using survey data for older adults
in Buffalo and Erie County, New York. Demographic and socio-economic characteristics—including age, sex, race, income, possessing
a driver’s license, frequency of leaving home, and personal mobility limitations—are tested but do not display, in bi-variate
analysis, statistically significant differences for transit riders versus non-transit riders. However, features of the built
environment—including distance (actual and perceived) between home and transit stop, transit service level, population density,
number of street intersections, metropolitan location, and neighborhood crime (property and violent) rate—display statistically
significant differences for transit riders versus non-transit riders. Both objective and perceived walking distances to access fixed-route transit show statistically significant differences between transit riders and non-transit
riders. Average walking distance from home to transit for non-transit riders—who mostly live in suburbs—is three times greater
than average walking distance between home and the nearest transit stop for transit riders—who mostly live in the central
city. When asked how near a bus stop is to their homes, transit riders slightly overestimate the actual distance, while non-transit
riders underestimate the distance. |
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