During the last several decades there has been a major demographic shift in terms of the aging of the U.S. population. As the U.S. population ages, previous research has indicated increasing diversity among the elderly in terms of their lifestyles, racial and ethnic differences, their income, health status, and residential choices. Because very little research has been done on the travel patterns of African-American elderly, the purpose of the present investigation was to examine the travel patterns of African-American elderly who most often reside in urban settings. To accomplish this goal, data from the 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey (NPTS) was analyzed exploring such demographic variables as age, gender, household structure, and residential location. The NPTS data show some striking differences between African-American elderly men and women in terms of their travel patterns. Overall, a higher percentage of African-American elderly men drive than African-American elderly women but the number of all elderly drivers declined with age. This age-related decline in driver status occurs independently of whether it is an urban or non-urban setting or the type of household structure in which African-American elderly live. Overall, the pattern of African-American elderly travel is affected by gender, age, and trip purpose. African-American elderly women in the age category of 65-69 travel more for religious activity and medical reasons than do comparable men who travel more for the social activity of visiting family and friends. As these elderly men and women reach their 80s the pattern reverses such that men travel more for medical reasons while comparable women travel more to visit family and friends. In urban settings, there is a higher percentage of African-American elderly men driving than African-American elderly women up to ages 75 to 79 where there is an equal number of men and women drivers. However, once these African-American elderly reach ages 80-88, there is a higher percentage of African-American elderly female drivers. A quite different pattern of driver status occurs in non-urban settings. Finally, the household structures of elderly African-Americans affect their travel behavior in addition to age and gender. In general, African-American elderly whose households are those of non-retired (single or non-single) with children make more trips and the relationship between travel day trips is apparently stronger in non-urban settings. However, travel day trips are also affected in different ways depending on both age and gender.
Samenvatting