MODELING SENIOR TRAVELERS' ACCEPTANCE OF NEW TRANSIT SYSTEMS

Abstract

This article examines the findings of an investigation of senior travelers' willingness to use several advanced transit systems. Elderly travelers were surveyed to evaluate their acceptance of a real time paratransit and several transit information systems. The likelihood of using each system was estimated using the binary probit modeling methodology. The analysis showed that gender, income, age, type of trips recently made, and several perception related variables are among the factors that affect the decision to accept the new transportation systems. The study also showed the important potential of several transportation technologies to increase the mobility and alleviate the transportation difficulties of the elderly population. In addition, the results illustrated the willingness of many groups of senior travelers to use new transportation systems in an attempt to reduce their travel problems.