STPs as an Agenda for Action

1
STPs as an Agenda for Action

• The Little Old Lady
• from
• Pasadena

2
The Little Old Lady From Pasadena

• Ms. Jones is 87 years old
• She has diabetes
• She suffers from related vision and mobility
  problems
• She is experiencing some dementia
• She lives on Social Security
• She has no family members in the area
• She has aged in place

3
What Do We Know About Her?

• 1 Transportation is critical to her life.
• 2 She lived in great fear of not being able to
  drive.
• 3 She was very reluctant to give up her keys.
• 4 Even if she wanted to, she couldnt access
  most public transit.
• 5 In order to remain in the community, she
  needs transportation options that will work for
  her.

4
Why Is Transportation Critical To Her?
5
Why Was She Fearful?

• ...cant see, cant hear, cant walk, but I have
  my car...
• I have macular degeneration and I am worried
  about what will happen to me when I can no longer
  drive.
• I have outlived my friends. I used to provide
  rides to them. They arent there when I need
  them.
• I hope I have enough moxy to hand my daughter
  the keys when I need to stop driving.
• I cant imagine trying to take my dads keys
  away.
• Driving is the key to life

6
Why Did She Hang On To Her Keys?

• Mom is a loner and fiercely independent.
• No one wants to lose their freedom.
• I dont want to be a burden.
• I dont want to be dependent on people all the
  time.
• It feels like an imposition.
• My parents are too proud to use public
  transportation.
• Giving up my keys is the most terrible thing
  that has ever happened to me.
• I will always love my wheels

7
Life Expectancy/Driving Expectancy

• Age 70 - 74
• At Age 70
• Men 17.7 Life Expectancy 87.7
• 11.5 Driving Expectancy 81.5
• Women 20.6 Life Expectancy 90.6
• 11.2 Driving Expectancy 81.2
• 1993 Data. Foley et al AJPh. 2002

6.2
9.4
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Why Didnt She Try Other Options?

• Public transportation is sick.
• I cant even walk to the john.
• I have problems carrying loads.
• I have a knee problem and the van doesnt pull
  up to the door.
• There is no close public transportation and I
  have to walk several blocks and need to take lots
  of transfers.
• Its difficult to use public transportation
  because it comes too early or too late.
• You have to be gone 3 hours for a 10 minute
  drive.
• There is a lack of user-friendly
  transportation.
• Its not just availability

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What Was Wrong With Her Options?
Senior Friendly Availability Accessibilit
y Acceptability Adaptability Affordabilit
y
Senior Difficult
too far
too high
too inconvenient
too rigid
too costly
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Special Review Senior Friendly Quotient
Pasadena
target population support from family members
.physical mobility financial situation
Accessibility
Adaptability
Affordability
Acceptability
Availability
?
?
?
?
?
Automobile (drive)
?
?
Bus / Subway
?
?
?
Paratransit
?
?
?
Taxi
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What Can Communities Do?
The Senior Transportation Crossroads
Understand the Problem Educate the Public
Review Existing Options
Identify New Options
Adaptation
Creation
Do Nothing
Senior Friendly Transportation
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Why Is All This Important?