Zeitler Elisabeth, Buys Laurie, Aird Rosemary, Miller Evonne
School of Design, Faculty of Creative Industries, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, 2 George Street, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
Curr Gerontol Geriatr Res. 2012;2012:257186. doi: 10.1155/2012/257186. Epub 2012 Dec 17.
Background. Governments face a significant challenge to ensure that community environments meet the mobility needs of an ageing population. Therefore, it is critical to investigate the effect of suburban environments on the choice of transportation and its relation to participation and active ageing. Objective. This research explores if and how suburban environments impact older people's mobility and their use of different modes of transport. Methods. Data derived from GPS tracking, travel diaries, brief questionnaires, and semistructured interviews were gathered from thirteen people aged from 56 to 87 years, living in low-density suburban environments in Brisbane, Australia. Results. The suburban environment influenced the choice of transportation and out-of-home mobility. Both walkability and public transportation (access and usability) impact older people's transportation choices. Impracticality of active and public transportation within suburban environments creates car dependency in older age. Conclusion. Suburban environments often create barriers to mobility, which impedes older people's engagement in their wider community and ability to actively age in place. Further research is needed to develop approaches towards age-friendly suburban environments which will encourage older people to remain active and engaged in older age.
背景。政府在确保社区环境满足老龄化人口的出行需求方面面临重大挑战。因此，研究郊区环境对交通方式选择的影响及其与参与度和积极老龄化的关系至关重要。目的。本研究探讨郊区环境是否以及如何影响老年人的出行及其对不同交通方式的使用。方法。从居住在澳大利亚布里斯班低密度郊区环境中的13名年龄在56岁至87岁之间的人那里收集了来自GPS跟踪、出行日记、简短问卷和半结构化访谈的数据。结果。郊区环境影响了交通方式的选择和外出出行。步行便利性和公共交通（可达性和可用性）都会影响老年人的交通选择。郊区环境中主动出行和公共交通的不实用性导致老年人对汽车的依赖。结论。郊区环境常常给出行造成障碍，这阻碍了老年人融入更广泛的社区以及在原地积极老龄化的能力。需要进一步开展研究，以制定打造对老年人友好的郊区环境的方法，这将鼓励老年人在老年时保持活跃和参与度。
