Influence of tolerable, perceived, and actual travel time on trip satisfaction among Canadian older adults

Abstract

As older adults cease driving, public transit can support them maintain their independence and remain connected to their communities. This population is particularly sensitive to travel times. While previous research has explored the impact of ideal and perceived travel times on satisfaction, the role of tolerable travel times—representing the maximum acceptable time threshold before satisfaction declines—has been underexplored. Understanding this relationship can provide valuable insight for improving transit experiences and meeting the mobility needs of older adults. To explore this gap, we examine how subjective (perceived and tolerable) and objective (actual) measures of travel time influence trip satisfaction among older adults. To do so, we use data from the 2023 Aging in Place Survey, a Canadian bilingual online survey, focusing on respondents who used transit at least once in the past year from Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver (N = 731). We asses the impact of these measures of travel time on trip satisfaction through multi-level ordered probit models, accounting for both individual and regional factors. Our findings suggest that older adults are more likely to be satisfied with their trip when perceived travel time aligns with what they consider as tolerable, rather than the actual, objective trip duration. They also reinforce the strong role of previous transit experiences and perceptions on shaping future trip satisfaction. Given the link between satisfaction and continuous transit use, these findings are relevant for practitioners and policymakers seeking to improve public transit experiences for older adults and support their healthy aging.