| Literature DB >> 33071389 |
Elise Whitley1, Peter Craig1, Frank Popham1.
Abstract
In the context of worldwide ageing, increasing numbers of older people are lonely, isolated and excluded, with serious implications for health, and cognitive and physical functioning. Access to good public transport can improve mobility and social participation among older adults, and policies that improve access and promote use, such as concessionary travel schemes, are potentially important in promoting healthy and successful ageing. Concessionary travel schemes for older people are in place in many countries but are under threat following the global financial crisis. Evidence regarding their success in encouraging activity and social participation is generally positive but based largely on qualitative or observational associations and, in particular, is often limited by the lack of appropriate comparison groups. We use changes in the English statutory scheme, in particular the rising eligibility age from 2010 onwards, as a natural experiment to explore its impact on older people's travel. A difference-in-difference-in-difference analysis of National Travel Surveys (2002-2016) compares three age groups differentially affected by eligibility criteria: 50-59 years (consistently ineligible), 60-64 years (decreasing eligibility from 2010) and 65-74 years (consistently eligible). Compared with 50-59-year-olds, bus travel by 60-74-year-olds increased year-on-year from 2002 to 2010 then fell following rises in eligibility age (annual change in weekly bus travel: -2.9 per cent (-4.1%, -1.7%) in 60-74- versus 50-59-year-olds). Results were consistent across gender, occupation and rurality. Our results indicate that access to, specifically, free travel increases bus use and access to services among older people, potentially improving mobility, social participation and health. However, the rising eligibility age in England has led to a reduction in bus travel in older people, including those not directly affected by the change, demonstrating that the positive impact of the concession goes beyond those who are eligible. Future work should explore the cost-benefit trade-off of this and similar schemes worldwide.Entities:
Keywords: ageing; bus travel; concessionary travel; natural experiment; public transport
Year: 2019 PMID: 33071389 PMCID: PMC7116195 DOI: 10.1017/S0144686X19000692
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Ageing Soc ISSN: 0144-686X
Statutory concessionary travel scheme in England and numbers in analytical sample based on 50–74-year-olds living in England and surveyed between 2002 and 2016
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| Age 50–59 with data from: | Age 60–64 with data from: | Age 65–74 with data from: | ||||||
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| Survey year | Concession | Eligibility | Interview | Diary | Interview | Diary | Interview | Diary |
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| Intervention 1: Change from half-price to free travel: | ||||||||
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| 2002 | Half-price travel (pre-intervention) | Age 60+ years[ | 2,355[ | 1,925 | 980[ | 825 | 1,571[ | 1,338 |
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| 2003 | 2,344 | 2,037 | 977 | 884 | 1,661 | 1,482 | ||
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| 2004 | 2,331[ | 2,056 | 1,003[ | 887 | 1,639[ | 1,474 | ||
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| 2005 | 2,498 | 2,125 | 1,064 | 938 | 1,772 | 1,601 | ||
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| 2006 | Free travel (post-intervention) | Age 60+ years | 2,500 | 2,143 | 1,119 | 978 | 1,662 | 1,495 |
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| 2007 | 2,383 | 2,082 | 1,171 | 1,058 | 1,747 | 1,555 | ||
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| 2008 | 2,271 | 1,989 | 1,211 | 1,086 | 1,765 | 1,582 | ||
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| 2009 | 2,394 | 2,142 | 1,294 | 1,147 | 1,747 | 1,562 | ||
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| Intervention 2: Withdrawal of concession from 60−64-year-olds: | ||||||||
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| 2006 | Free travel | Age 60+ years (pre-intervention) | 2,500 | 2,143 | 1,119 | 978 | 1,662 | 1,495 |
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| 2007 | 2,383 | 2,082 | 1,171 | 1,058 | 1,747 | 1,555 | ||
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| 2008 | 2,271 | 1,989 | 1,211 | 1,086 | 1,765 | 1,582 | ||
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| 2009 | 2,394 | 2,142 | 1,294 | 1,147 | 1,747 | 1,562 | ||
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| 2010 | Free travel | Rising eligibility age (post-intervention) | 2,133 | 1,859 | 1,273 | 1,152 | 1,790 | 1,621 |
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| 2011 | 2,243 | 1,989 | 1,177 | 1,051 | 1,703 | 1,522 | ||
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| 2012 | 2,308 | 2,032 | 1,171 | 1,056 | 1,950 | 1,783 | ||
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| 2013 | 2,129 | 1,882 | 1,113 | 1,013 | 1,954 | 1,793 | ||
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| 2014 | 2,304 | 2,040 | 1,014 | 910 | 1,968 | 1,793 | ||
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| 2015 | 2,457 | 2,058 | 1,073 | 892 | 2,088 | 1,810 | ||
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| 2016 | 2,337 | 2,010 | 1,066 | 951 | 1,935 | 1,727 | ||
Notes: 1. In 2002 the eligibility age was 60 for women and 65 for men but this was equalised to 60 for both sexes in 2003. 2. Data on frequency of bus travel was not collected in 2002 and 2004.
Characteristics of anaytical sample based on 50–74 year olds living in England and surveyed between 2002 and 2016
| Interview data | 50–59 year olds | 60–64 year olds | 65–74 year olds |
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| Sex (%) | |||
| Male | 49.5 | 49.3 | 47.5 |
| Female | 50.5 | 50.7 | 52.5 |
| Occupation (%) | |||
| Manual/routine/none | 40.7 | 44.2 | 47.7 |
| Non manual | 59.3 | 55.8 | 52.3 |
| Rurality (%) | |||
| Urban | 79.6 | 77.4 | 77.6 |
| Rural | 20.4 | 22.6 | 22.4 |
| Acces to car (%) | |||
| Access | 79.8 | 77.1 | 69.0 |
| No access | 20.2 | 22.9 | 31.0 |
| Bus pass (%) | |||
| No | 100.0 | 49.1 | 25.9 |
| Yes | 0.0 | 50.9 | 74.1 |
| Bus travel at least weekly (%) | |||
| No | 81.5 | 73.1 | 65.1 |
| Yes | 18.5 | 26.9 | 34.9 |
| 7-day diary data | 50–59 year olds | 60–64 year olds | 65–74 year olds |
| Any bus or London underground travel[ | |||
| No | 82.2 | 75.8 | 69.9 |
| Yes | 17.8 | 24.2 | 30.1 |
| N journeys by car, van or motorcycle | |||
| Mean (SD) | 14.5 (10.2) | 13.3 (9.7) | 11.7 (9.1) |
Reflecting additional benefits of London Freedom Pass
Figure 1Self-reported bus pass ownership according to survey year and age group.
Note: Ninety-five per cent confidence intervals are shown.
Figure 2Self-reported weekly bus use according to survey year and age group.
Note: Ninety-five per cent confidence intervals are shown.
Figure 3At least one journey recorded in weekly diary by bus or London underground according to survey year and age groups; journeys for (a) all purposes and (b) shopping or access to services.
Note: Ninety-five per cent confidence intervals are shown.