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Abstract

Concern has been expressed about the impact of rising transportation costs on the rural elderly, though little is actually known about how the elderly have responded and whether there are difference,s among them in adaptive behavior. Using data col lected from 180 rural elderly vehicle owners, this study examined the adoption of travel-change strategies that could potentially reduce or minimize increases in gasoline expenditures. The analysis indicated that older persons making spatial changes of reducing travel activity and shopping closer to home were distinguished from others by a lower income and a greater decline in financial and health status. Adopters of nonspatial changes were distinguished from others by the possession of personal resources-greater physical mobility in the case of those combining more trip purposes and a higher income in the instance of those purchasing a more fuel- efficient vehicle. Implications of the findings for the provision of rural transportation services are discussed.

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Travel Adaptations Among the Elderly1

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