Analysis of the Transportation Disadvantaged in an Aging Society

1 Older adults have been reported as one of the most transportation disadvantaged groups. In 2 particular, mobility challenges for older minority females are notable. This study investigates 3 personal, household, and residential environment factors associated with transportation mobility 4 of older minority females age 65+ using the 2009 National Household Travel Survey conducted 5 in the U.S. Principal Component Analysis and a linear regression model are employed to develop 6 a mobility measure and to examine various factors on the measure. This study found that U.S. 7 born older minority females have distinctly different characteristics from foreign born older 8 minority females with regards to mobility. Public transit use is positively associated with older 9 minority populations’ mobility and not driving reduces the mobility level. Older minority women 10 in low income households have lower mobility levels, but those with a college degree have 11 higher mobility levels. This study concludes that older minority populations are not homogenous, 12 thus, more in-depth research on various sub-groups of older minority populations is warranted in 13 an increasingly diverse aging society. 14 15