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“Aging Americans: Stranded Without Options”
Quote Sheet

“We must move aggressively to implement a balanced, multi-modal transportation system, supported by mixed use development, to ensure that older Americans unable to drive are not isolated and cut off from their communities.”

--Anne Canby, President of the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP)

“Today more than three and a half million Americans age 65+ risk isolation simply because they don’t drive, and their numbers will explode after 2025 when Boomers enter their 60s, 70s and 80s. Federal, state and local policymakers must start now to plan for the time when Americans who grew up in cars put down their keys for good. Congress can lead the way by increasing stable, guaranteed funding for public transportation programs, particularly those that serve older persons and persons with disabilities, within the reauthorization of the surface transportation bill.”

 --Byron Thames, AARP Board Member

“Improving access to public transportation is the best way to lessen the pattern of isolation and provide seniors with transportation choices. Increased federal investment in public transportation can help communities meet the growing needs of our aging population for generations to come.”

--William W. Millar, President of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA)

“STPP’s report forcefully underscores the plight of older Americans who are stranded without transportation options and thereby cut off from the meaningful activities that enhance the quality of their lives in later years.  Although community transportation options are frequently inadequate to meet need, older adults, families and friends also must shoulder a responsibility to educate themselves about those traditional and non-traditional community options that do exist to keep older persons connected to their community.”

--Jeff Finn, American Society on Aging

“Non-elderly people with disabilities face many of the same limitations of transportation as do older people - personal vehicles and taxis may not be accessible to many people who use mobility aids or have sensory impairments.  Barriers on vehicles and on rights of way make it difficult to use public transportation where it is available.  As with older Americans, people with disabilities may be isolated - not by choice.  Paralyzed Veterans of America also supports federal transportation policy that adequately funds public transportation, increases safe and accessible rights of way, and requires inclusive planning so all Americans can move around their communities.”

 --Maureen McCloskey, Director of National Advocacy for the Paralyzed Veterans of America

“Engineering the daily physical activity out of our lives has fueled the obesity epidemic, which in addition to creating health problems, impacts our aging population, who rely heavily on walking and transit to access the services they need.  As landscape architects, we can design active living components back into our communities, working with developers and public officials to make sure people have transportation options besides getting behind the wheel of a car.”

 --Susan L.B. Jacobson, FASLA, President of The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)

“The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) represents more than 5,600 mission-driven, not-for-profit providers across the continuum, including many community service providers of adult day and senior center programs. Public senior transportation services, such as those funded by the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5310, which funds the purchase of vehicles for community providers, are essential to ensure that older persons can access these and other health and support services that help maintain their health, independence, and quality of life. Aging Americans: Stranded without Options is an important new report that illustrates the current and growing unmet transportation needs of our nation’s elderly, and the consequent need to increase funding for transportation services such as Section 5310.”

--William L. Minnix, Jr., D.Min, President and CEO of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging 

“This study underscores the need for increasing the transportation options for older Americans.  We also know that as they get older, most Americans will remain in the homes and communities where they live now. Because of this trend to age in place, cities and suburbs need more investment in good transportation planning that involves the full array of citizens and provides a system that meets their diverse needs.”

--Jeff Soule, FAICP, Director of Policy for the American Planning Association

“The release of today’s report Aging Americans: Stranded Without Options serves to underscore the tremendous need for alternative transportation options by the nation’s growing aging population. Area Agencies on Aging and Title VI Native American aging programs play a critical role in providing supplemental transportation programs to older adults in communities across the country to fill the gap in transportation services, particularly for the most transportation vulnerable older adults in need of medical transportation and door-to-door services to stay mobile. n4a commends the Surface Transportation Policy Project and its partners for producing this report calling for increased investment in transportation for older adults and persons with disabilities.”

--Sandy Markwood, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging

“Older Americans who gradually age out of safe driving are not inadequate to the needs of the prevailing transportation system--the private automobile.  The transportation system is inadequate to the needs of normally aging Americans. 

As we look to the transportation horizon, we need dignified, economically sustainable alternatives to the private automobile. 

Volunteer driver programs are public transportation's parallell reality.  I'm thrilled to see this report recommends policy to support them.”

--Kathy Freund, President/Executive Director of the Independent Transportation Network

“This report shows the serious consequences of developing communities and the transportation system for only part of the population.  Neighborhoods should be built for everyone: children, single adults, families, and seniors.”

--Beth Osborne, Policy Director for Smart Growth America

From around the country:

“I don't know what I would do without the buses.  I would not be able to work every day or go to Church on Sundays.  Basically, I would be trapped in my home, alone, with no way to get to where I need to be to have a meaningful life as a senior citizen.”

--Christine Kight, a receptionist with The Thomas Merton Center in Pittsburgh

“The state of public rural transportation… much more has to be done to let seniors know what is available.  As a mobility specialist in rural Texas, I see the need to provide information about what transportation options are available, for example, for seniors who are raising their grandchildren.”

--Eloy Soza, Mobility Specialist in rural Texas

“The importance of public transportation to seniors can be summed up in one word: INDEPENDENCE.  Many senior ladies have never driven cars and now their husbands have either passed away or are no longer able to drive.  Public transit is their ONLY option if they want to remain or become independent.  Many also need to work outside the home for the first time in their lives and public transit is the ticket to a livelihood.  Others need transit if they are to remain healthy - public transit makes doctor's visits possible,check-ups more likely.”

--Marjorie DeAngelis, Pennsylvania

“Transportation means everything.  It takes me shopping, to the nutrition center everyday and to medical appointments.  It allows me to stay in my own home.”

--Mrs. Hester Van Gieson, Florida Association of Coordinated Transportation Systems, Inc.

“Just getting around town is a problem.  My brother has a car and is good about taking me places, but he works, and I don't want to become a nuisance. I am pretty isolated, but independence is important to me.”

--Senior living with low income, Community Transportation in Texas, IDP Survey

“Reliable transportation for our older adults is vital. If you take away their ability to travel and remain social and active in their community, you take away their freedom and their independence.”

--Robert K. Pfaff , Executive Director of Akron METRO RTA

“Due to the lack of funding for public transit fixed route bus service in Tulsa, many more elderly individuals and people with disabilities are using the ADA paratransit service Tulsa Transit provides, and at a much higher cost to Tulsa Transit.”

--Cynthia Staab, Director of Strategic Development for Tulsa Transit

“The State of Florida has a new law requiring seniors over 79 years of age to pass an eye examination before they can renew their driver’s license. Many of our older seniors will lose the ability to drive a car as a result of this new law,  but they will not have to lose the freedom of mobility.  Broward County Transit has introduced its “Savvy Seniors” campaign that has heightened awareness, among seniors, to public transportation and its many benefits.  By choosing transit, seniors will have access to healthcare, recreation, entertainment and something much more – the independence to enjoy life to its fullest.”

--Phyllis Berry, Broward County Division of Mass Transit

“While the Older Americans Act offers senior citizens paratransit service for specific eligible trips, Anchorage People Mover offers travel training to increase seniors’ options for independence and mobility through fixed bus routes.  Travel trainers work one-on-one or with groups to familiarize would-be riders with the bus system.  We work with seniors to find the safest walk to bus stops near their home and destinations. We show them how to board the bus and transfer to another route. We explain the bus rules and features, trip planning, how to use the schedule booklet, how to know if they are standing at the correct bus stop. We talk about what to do if something goes wrong, and how to ask the driver for assistance. We even discuss dressing for the weather. In Alaska, it’s not like jumping in a car; our customers need to dress properly to wait outside for a bus.”

--Tom Wilson, Public Transportation Director for the Municipality of Anchorage

“The United States spent the past 50 years developing an auto-dependent transportation system that does not include access for over 1/2 of our population—seniors and children.  Without increased funding for public transit, passenger rail service, bicycle and pedestrian projects will continue to lose the economic opportunity that isolating these citizens caused.”

--Dominic J. Liberatore, Board Member Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers

“Eighty percent or more of our clients are elderly riders and have no other means of transportation on a daily basis.  The transportation is vital to their survival, due to the fact that we not only transport them to their doctors’ appointments and to pick up medication but we take them daily to nutrition centers to make sure they are getting at least one good meal a day.”

-- Gary Ledford, Director of Champaign Transit in Illinois