Fostering an Age-Friendly Sustainable Transport System: A Psychological Perspective

Luigi Tinella, Andrea Bosco, Sergio Traficante, Rosa Napoletano, Elisabetta Ricciardi, Giuseppina Spano, Antonella Lopez, Giovanni Sanesi, Angela Stefania Bergantino and Alessandro Oronzo Caffò ()
Additional contact information
Luigi Tinella: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Andrea Bosco: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Sergio Traficante: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Rosa Napoletano: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Elisabetta Ricciardi: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Giuseppina Spano: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Antonella Lopez: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Giovanni Sanesi: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Angela Stefania Bergantino: Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
Alessandro Oronzo Caffò: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-15

Abstract: The aging population is rapidly growing across the world, with the number of people aged 65 or older projected to reach 1.6 billion by 2050. As such, it is essential to consider how to develop sustainable transport systems that are age-friendly. This perspective paper investigates how to foster an age-friendly transport system with a particular focus on public and sustainable transport options for the elderly. Existing transport systems are evaluated to determine their adherence to an effective age-friendly transport system in terms of three main requirements, namely affordability, accessibility and safety. Then, a psychological perspective is introduced by considering the psycho-physical needs and preferences of the elderly as well as individual factors affecting them. Four areas are considered: (a) independence and autonomy, (b) comfort and convenience, (c) social inclusion and ageism, (d) physical health and well-being, especially injuries due to mobility and fear connected with them. Finally, a proposal is made about psychological training programs directed to both elderly users and transport workers to overcome concerns for an age-friendly transportation system. Such programs could effectively support the age-friendly use of public transport systems simply by increasing the age-friendly skills of both users as well as transport workers.

Keywords: aging; transportation; mobility aids; psychological training (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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