The well-being of the elderly population has become an impending public policy issue. With the oldest of the baby boomers about to reach retirement age, the mobility issues of the elderly are critical because, on the one hand, their number has increased rapidly, and on the other, they have shown a growing tendency to live in low-density areas where activities are not easy to access. In this book, the author analyzes the relationship between land use characteristics and travel patterns of the elderly. Land use strategy such as high density, mixed land use, and neighborhood design has become a popular approach for solving transportation problems. Are different land use characteristics associated with the variations in travel behavior of the elderly? Is land use an apropriate approach to resolve the mobility issues of the elderly? This book provides insights on travel behavior, activity patterns and residential characteristics of the elderly to urban planners, transportation planners, researchers, and policy makers.

Elderly travel behavior can potentially be shaped by changes in the built environment. However the debate over the connection of transportation and land use has not yet reached a consensus. In order to better understand the relationship between the built environment and elderly travel behavior, this analysis adopts an integrated activity-based type approach to study the impact of the built environment represented by disaggregate land use characteristics on different levels of elderly travel decisions (activity generation, tour generation and tour-based mode choice). Using data from National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) 2009 Florida Add-on and GIS data from the Florida Geographic Data Library (FGDL), a case study is presented on the Southeast Florida Region. The results show that different levels of travel decisions are affected by different built environment factors. Employment density can encourage elderly travel. Better street connectivity increases the likelihood of travelers engaging in a simple tour, while living in a neighborhood with an office area may result in less time constrained tour. Street connectivity, regional accessibility and transit accessibility are found to be correlated with elderly mode choice. This study provided a more comprehensive interpretation of the travel patterns, and subsequent travel behavior and needs of the elderly.

"Recommended."--CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries "Coughlin and DíAmbrosioís edited volume is a welcome contribution to highlighting this issue for gerontologists. The collection is an informative and useful reference for students, researchers, practitioners, planners, and policy analysts"--The Gerontologist This solution-focused volume fills a gap in the literature by addressing the key issues around mobility and transportation for the aging Baby Boomer generation--issues that will be significantly different than those of previous generations of older adults. This new generation, many of whom will continue to work past the traditional retirement age and expect to pursue an active lifestyle, may have to confront new transportation technology, the need to use public transportation, and ways to continue driving safely as their eyesight fades and reaction time slows down. This volume examines many of the issues faced by policymakers, transportation officials, vehicle manufacturers, health and human services professionals, and aging adults themselves as the largest generation prepares to enter late adulthood. The volume's editors are both at the MIT AgeLab, whose multi-disciplinary team designs, develops and deploys innovations to enhance quality of life for aging populations. Through the contributions of a diverse group of theorists and practitioners, including recommendations from the National Older Driver Safety Advisory Council, a collaboration between AARP's Driver Safety Program and the MIT AgeLab, the book discusses several key topics pertinent to Aging America and transportation. Among them are the changing demographics of the population, how this generation's lifestyle choices affect mobility, technology trends in private vehicles, changes in the infrastructure and transportation system, the "new" older driver, and issues of safety and education among older drivers. This book also explores practical solutions and strategies, such as new transportation options and innovations that will significantly impact the future of mobility for older adults, for keeping these seniors active and mobile well into their later years. Key Features: Focuses on the unique mobility needs of the aging Baby Boomer generation Provides practical solutions and strategies for policy changes to enhance the mobility of older adults Examines issues faced by policymakers, transportation officials, vehicle manufacturers, health and human services professionals, and aging adults Discusses strategies for updating the infrastructure and transportation system, driving safety education for older drivers, and trends in private vehicle innovations

'Urban Sprawl and Public Health' offers a survey of the impact that the built environment can have on the health of the people who inhabit our cities. The authors go on to suggest ways in which the design of cities could be improved & have a positive impact on the well-being of their citizens.