From Transportation Equity to Accessibility Capability: A New Framework to Guide Transportation Planning for Older People

Abstract

Despite increasing attention to theories in transportation equity, few focus on specific social groups, such as older people. Scholars and practitioners need to better understand the implications that residential location, access to transportation, and technology resources have for older people's quality of life. Drawing on literature from urban planning, gerontology, and public health, I develop a framework, accessibility capability, that will support the planning of future transportation systems and neighborhoods to accommodate older people's travel needs. Scholars and practitioners can benefit from this critical synthesis of literature as they consider how to build more age-friendly cities and communities.