Older Adults, New Mobility, and Automated Vehicles

Fraade-Blanar, Laura; Larco, Nico; Best, Ryan; Swift, Tiffany; Blumenthal, Marjory S · 2021 · ROSA P / University of Oregon, Urbanism Next Center

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Summary

This report addresses the critical gap in understanding how emerging mobility technologies, particularly automated vehicles (AVs) and shared-use services, impact the transportation access of older adults. While these innovations are often touted as solutions to mobility challenges, their deployment currently prioritizes able-bodied, tech-savvy users, potentially exacerbating inequities for older adults with physical, cognitive, or financial limitations. The research was motivated by the need to ensure that the transition to new mobility models does not inadvertently reduce transportation options for this growing demographic, especially those who are "harder-to-serve," such as individuals with disabilities or those living in rural areas. The study was conducted through a collaborative effort between the AARP Public Policy Institute, RAND Corporation, and the Urbanism Next Center at the University of Oregon. The methodology included a non-systematic review of relevant literature, interviews with a purposive sample of subject matter experts from various sectors, and a roundtable discussion with 28 participants including policymakers, technologists, and researchers. The authors used existing ride-hailing services as a proxy for future fleet-based AV models to identify current barriers and potential unintended consequences. The primary finding is a comprehensive framework of factors influencing older adult mobility, organized into individual, organizational, and societal levels. This framework highlights significant demand-side barriers, such as smartphone access, digital literacy, affordability, and physical limitations regarding vehicle entry and exit. It also identifies supply-side issues, including the lack of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, limited service availability in rural areas, and biases in service deployment. The report notes that current new mobility options largely cater to the "easiest-to-serve" populations, leaving a large segment of older adults reliant on unreliable informal networks. Furthermore, the popularity of ride-hailing may undermine public transit revenue, further reducing options for low-income and mobility-impaired travelers. The significance of this work lies in its provision of a structured tool for stakeholders to guide the equitable integration of AVs and new mobility services. The authors conclude that there is a lack of consensus on the roles and responsibilities of public and private sectors in addressing these issues. They advocate for the application of universal design principles and early stakeholder engagement to prevent the marginalization of harder-to-serve populations. By using the framework as a checklist for pilot programs and policy development, the report aims to ensure that emerging technologies expand, rather than restrict, mobility options for all older adults.

Key finding

The study developed a multi-level framework identifying that current automated vehicle and new mobility deployments risk excluding harder-to-serve older adults due to technology, physical, and economic barriers, necessitating proactive policy and design interventions.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Sample size: 28

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• acceptance adoption
• older drivers