This paper presents a study of how to make Japanese public transport services offer an appropriate level of mobility for elderly non-drivers. It investigated the present situation, by using the data of a 1989 person trip survey in two areas of Japan with exceptionally high car ownership. The sample was subdivided into groups according to age (less than 65 or over 65), and whether driving licences were held. For each of these four groups, the modal split is charted, together with the trip purposes of travellers by rail, bus, car and taxi. A multiple regression analysis was conducted, to investigate the relation between mobility and service level of public transport. The multiple correlation coefficients for each of the following variables was found to be statistically significant at the 1% level: (1) proportion of people travelling on a given day (`going out rate'); (2) net trips; and (3) travel time per day. It was found that non-drivers used rail and bus services extensively, and that the mobility of elderly people increased with the amount of provision of public transport, especially rail services.
Samenvatting