According to Transportation for America, baby boomers are among the most marginalized sectors of the society when it comes to access to affordable and efficient modes of transportation. Because of the physiological changes to their bodies, they may no longer be fit to get behind the wheel and drive themselves. Because of this, they resort to taking public transportation, if not finding rides with family or friends.
This puts an even greater strain on their already frail and fragile bodies. The poor conditions of public transportation not only challenge the mobility of seniors because of the effort needed to get to public transit transfer stations and stops, but also make for an unfriendly environment for senior passengers.
While some buses and other transportation modes already incorporate amenities that can accommodate walkers and foldable wheelchairs, the majority still do not. What these industries have yet to realize, though, is that there is a very clear need for accessible and efficient senior transportation precisely because there is a demographic in demand for it.
Responding to the Need
As people get older, it becomes a lot more difficult for them to perform even the most basic, intuitive tasks, like running errands at the grocery or enjoying travel for vacation. Visual impairment, confusion, memory gaps, and aching joints are only some of the issues that they will must contend with on a daily basis.
Having a readily available form of transportation for them can significantly ease the difficulties they face in navigating this world with their new requirements for comfort. Transportation companies therefore would do well to start paying attention to this demographic so that they can improve their services. Apart from being able to provide the logistics for transportation, managing and facilitating their operations can be better achieved with the right software and technology.
Keep in mind that these seniors will not always have the luxury of someone to assist them, not even to make arrangements for their own transportation. As such, it will be important that they are able to transact quickly and conveniently. The entire point of this for service providers is to provide service particularly designed for seniors.
Software and technologies are available to meet these seniors’ demands, such as those from companies like MJM Innovations. At the end of the day, there are more reasons for businesses covering the transportation industry to pay more attention to the senior demographic, not only because it is the profitable thing to do, but because it is the compassionate thing to do.
Sources:
Finding Transportation Services for Seniors. AgingCare.com.
The Role of Public Transportation in the Lives of Elderly and Disabled Riders. CATO Institute.
