Transportation Patterns of Adults With Travel-Limiting Disabilities in Rural and Urban America

Lack
of transportation is a significant barrier to community participation for
many disabled adults. Living in a rural area introduces additional
transportation barriers, such as having to travel long distances to access
services or socialize, and limited public transit options. While the
importance of transportation access is clear, the mix of different
transportation options used by people with disabilities to participate in
their communities is less understood, particularly among those who do not or cannot
drive. This study used 2017 data from the National Household Travel Survey to
explore transportation behaviors among disabled adults in rural and urban
areas. Several geographic differences emerged among non-drivers. Rural
non-drivers were less likely to take any trip, particularly for social
activities, and reported using less public transportation or walking/rolling
than urban non-drivers. Overall, disabled rural adults reported lower odds of
giving up driving, even after controlling for socio-demographic and health
characteristics.