Older adults’ travel experiences: Role of the perceived and objective built environment

As the share of older adults increases, understanding how the built environment influences their travel behaviour is crucial for creating age-friendly environments. Research suggests that combining perceived and objective measures provides a more accurate assessment, yet their relationship—especially beyond walking—remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap using survey data from 1115 participants in Ghent, Belgium. Correlation analyses show alignment between perceptions and objective measures (e.g., the presence of cycling infrastructure is positively associated with older adults’ cyclability perceptions). However, some weak associations suggest that built environment perceptions may be influenced by additional factors. Multinomial logit models reveal that both perceived and objective environments influence travel mode choice, with cycling infrastructure and parking conditions playing major roles. Perceived features are more influential for some modes, objective features for others. Therefore, planning age-friendly cities requires integrating perceived and objective measures, while supporting social inclusion and sustainable, high-quality travel options.