Study Shows Demand-Responsive Transport Boosts Daily Activity in Seniors

In regions experiencing a rising population of elderly residents, the challenge of first- and last-mile mobility has emerged as a significant social issue. A recent study conducted by researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University has highlighted the potential of demand-responsive transport (DRT) in addressing this problem. DRT is a flexible transportation service that allows passengers to request pickups and drop-offs based on their personal needs.

The research, which focused on a DRT pilot program in Senboku New Town, aimed to assess how this transportation model impacts the daily physical activity of older adults. Participants were recruited through the Health-Smart-Senboku mobile application, providing a comprehensive dataset for the study.

Findings published in the Journal of Transport and Health indicate that utilizing DRT significantly increased the average number of daily steps taken by elderly users by approximately 628 steps per day. Prior to the DRT implementation, the step count among users was noticeably lower than that of non-users. However, during the study, the activity levels of DRT users rose to match those of their non-user counterparts.

This research also reveals that DRT could facilitate increased physical activity among individuals with health challenges who may find it difficult to rely on private vehicles. The researchers emphasized the importance of these findings for policymakers, who need to recognize the multifaceted benefits of DRT.

According to the study, the financial viability of DRT services cannot rest solely on fare revenues from the transportation sector. The researchers advocate for collaboration between the healthcare and transportation sectors to ensure that DRT operations are sustainable and effective. They recommend that stakeholders engage in a collaborative effort to evaluate the broader social impacts of DRT, framing it as a transdisciplinary project aimed at enhancing first- and last-mile mobility for seniors.

For further information, the complete study can be found in the Journal of Transport and Health, authored by Souta Nakajima and colleagues, under the title Effects of demand-responsive transport on daily walking steps in Senboku New-Town: A cohort study using propensity score matching.