Transportation Mobility Among Low-Income, Transportation Disadvantaged Older Adults Living in a Low Density Urban Environment Using Innovative Data Collection Methods

This study investigates the transportation disadvantage that low-income, older adults face on an individual basis. To accomplish this, research team members custom designed an innovative “travel diary” app, MyAmble, which tracks planned, completed, failed/uncompleted trips, and unserved trips in its Trip Planner module. In addition to the typical transportation planning data (e.g. origin, destination, mode), MyAmble collects data related to the completed or failed/uncompleted trip’s impact on the participant’s mood and quality of life. MyAmble utilizes 3 additional modules (Challenge Logger, Travel Buddy, and Travel History) to collect qualitative data related to the role that transportation plays in the participant’s life and history. The field test shows significant promise in terms of capturing data on quantity and impact of missed trips, particularly as they relate to psycho-social-emotional well-being and autonomy; however, the selected population of low-income, community-dwelling older adults face health challenges that may have limited some participants’ ability to utilize the app. The study generates critical feedback for continued improvements to MyAmble. Participants expressed positive feedback and strong support for the app, specifically the Travel Buddy feature. The data generated by MyAmble provide new insights into the challenges facing environmental justice communities.

• Record URL:
  https://wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/u883/2018/TRCLC_RR_16-09_0.pdf
• 

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $119998
• Contract Numbers:

  DTRT13-G-UTC60 TRC-16-09

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Transportation Research Center for Livable Communities

  Western Michigan University
  Kalamazoo, MI  United States  49009-5316

  Western Michigan University

  1903 W. Michigan Avenue
  Kalamazoo, MI  United States  49008-5241
• Project Managers:

  Dunn, Denise

• Performing Organizations:

  Transportation Research Center for Livable Communities

  Western Michigan University
  Kalamazoo, MI  United States  49009-5316

  University of Texas, Arlington

  Dept. of Civil Engineering
  Box 19308
  Arlington, TX  United States  76019
• Principal Investigators:

  Adorno, Gail

  Cronley, Courtney

  Mattingly, Stephen

• Start Date: 20160901
• Expected Completion Date: 20180531
• Actual Completion Date: 20180711
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
• Subprogram: Research
• Source Data: https://wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/u883/2018/TRCLC_RR_16-09_0.pdf

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; Data collection; Low income groups; Mobility; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Travel behavior
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Subject Areas: Research; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01610407
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Center for Livable Communities
• Contract Numbers: DTRT13-G-UTC60 TRC-16-09
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Sep 9 2016 11:50AM