Transportation Patterns of Adults With Travel-Limiting Disabilities in Rural and Urban America

Myers, Andrew; Ipsen, Catherine; Standley, Krys · 2022 · DOAJ

DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2022.877555

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Summary

This study investigates transportation patterns among adults with travel-limiting disabilities in rural and urban areas of the United States, addressing the significant barrier transportation poses to community participation. While the importance of transportation access is well-established, the specific mix of transportation modalities used by disabled individuals, particularly those who do not or cannot drive, remains underexplored. The research aims to understand how disabled rural adults navigate their communities compared to their urban counterparts and how transportation use varies across U.S. regions. The authors conducted a secondary analysis of data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), focusing on a sample of 22,716 adults with long-term travel-limiting disabilities. The study examined differences in trip purposes (social, independent living, healthcare, work) and transportation modalities (driver, passenger, public transit, taxi/rideshare, walk/roll) between rural and urban residents. Additionally, a binomial logistic regression was performed to identify factors predicting the odds of giving up driving due to disability, controlling for socio-demographic, economic, health, and environmental variables. Results indicated distinct geographic disparities among non-drivers. Rural non-drivers were significantly less likely to take any trips, particularly for social activities, and reported lower usage of public transportation and walking/rolling compared to urban non-drivers. Instead, rural non-drivers relied heavily on riding as passengers in personal vehicles (83.7% vs. 47.8% in urban areas). Regional analysis revealed that Northeast residents were more likely to use public transportation and walking/rolling, while Southern residents relied most heavily on personal vehicle passengers and least on public transit. Regarding driving cessation, disabled rural adults reported lower odds of giving up driving than urban adults, even after controlling for other factors. The regression analysis further showed that younger age, employment, and higher educational attainment were associated with lower odds of giving up driving, while using assistive devices and poorer self-rated health increased these odds. These findings highlight the critical role of personal vehicles in facilitating community participation for disabled adults, especially in rural areas where public transit options are limited. The continued reliance on personal vehicles, either as drivers or passengers, underscores the inadequacy of alternative transportation modes in many regions. The study suggests that policy interventions aimed at improving transportation access for disabled individuals must account for geographic differences and the varying availability of public transit. Understanding these patterns is essential for designing effective transportation solutions that support social inclusion and independent living for people with disabilities across diverse settings.

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• urban rural setting