Themed volume on “Aging and Mobility” in the journal “Research in Transportation Business and Management”

Population aging is a social phenomenon which is affecting different sectors in life including transport. As a result, the body of literature dealing with the mobility of older people and its determinants is developing. On the one hand, older people are remaining much more active and mobile being healthier, licensed to drive, more educated and working longer. On the other hand, the highest increase in the older population is within the older-old segment due to the “aging of aging”. The benefits of mobility in later life and active aging have been widely documented and evidenced. However older people are usually considered as one of the transport disadvantaged groups. More knowledge is needed on the management of transport systems so as to cater for and adapt to the needs of aging societies. This themed volume focuses specifically on managing mobility and transport systems so as to improve the quality of life of older people whilst simultaneously working towards sustainable mobility.

This themed volume welcomes both theoretical and empirical contributions that address the management of mobility in later life. Invited topics should be related, but not limited to:

  • Evaluation of different transport infrastructures and their impact on older people as drivers, pedestrians, cyclist or public transport users;
  • The effects of neighbourhood designs and built environment on the quality of life and mobility of older people (e.g. age in place concepts).
  • Assessment of “new” transport services that can improve the mobility of older people;
  • Novel methods that identify and manage the mobility needs and perceptions of older people that have a higher risk of transport deficiency;
  • Empirical data from under-researched case studies such as from contexts in the developing world;
  • Analysis and implications of new technologies specifically targeted to improve mobility as people age.

If you are interested in submitting a paper, you are kindly requested to send a 300 word abstract by the 20th August 2018 to deborah.mifsud@um.edu.mt and maria.attard@um.edu.mt

Following the review of all the abstracts received we will submit the proposal to the editors for consideration and provide feedback to the authors. We expect the full papers by 19th November 2018 to start the review process. We expect publication of the themed volume before the end of 2019.