Mobility, or the ability to get from place to place, is important for everyone. Mobility enables people to conduct the activities of daily life, stay socially connected with their world, participate in activities that make life enjoyable, and maintain their quality of life. In most Western Nations and in the United States (US) in particular, mobility is closely linked with the ability to drive a personal automobile. This preference for cars is particularly pronounced in rural areas where there are generally fewer transportation options. The long distances between rural residences and necessary services can lead to significant unmet need for transportation options in rural communities. At the same time, providing public transportation in remote areas is especially complex and, and even when available, public transportation may not be an adequate mode of travel for the older population. While the rural population in Michigan presents challenges for transportation planners; connecting rural areas with improved transportation systems is also a challenge for the nation as a whole. With the increased population of older rural residents, providing adequate mobility options will continue to be an especially important issue in the coming years. This report explores issues related to transportation and mobility in rural areas generally, and in rural areas of Michigan specifically. The information from this report is intended to assist Michigan in meeting the transportation needs of its rural older adult population. The report has two main sections. The first is a review of the literature that covers a number of topics including: aging in place; travel behaviour; effects of driving cessation among rural older adults; rural community mobility; barriers to using public transportation; transportation coordination; mobility management; travel training; American Indian transportation issues; and rural transportation funding. The second part of this report presents the results of a demographic analysis of: six rural counties in Michigan that are the focus of our research study (Iron, Marquette, Hillsdale, Mason, Huron, and Alpena); all rural Michigan counties combined; and all of Michigan. The demographic analysis covers the following areas: the current population; population forecasts; older adult driver licensing; and older adult vehicle crashes. (Author/publisher)
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