Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The aim of this survey was to study the travel patterns of old people and the role of transport in their every day lives. A sample of housewives was also surveyed in order to compare some aspects of the travel behaviour and difficulties of old people with a younger group of people with limited mobilty living in the same town.

Main Topics:

Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions Questions covered difficulties with and use of transport modes,giving up cars and driving, and the effect of ill health on walking ability; a travel diary covered all journeys (including short walks) made in the previous day; detailed sections on travel to the town centre, shops, post office, doctor, hospital, friends and relations. Questions on the location of places visited, frequency of travel, modes used and journey time. Substitutes for travel for different purposes were also included. Straight-line distances were calculated for each respondent between home and various destinations visited; these distances were added to the data file. Background Variables Background variables included age, sex, marital status, working status, household composition, driving licence- holding and household car ownership, distance from town centre, tenure, length of residence, previous residence, social class and SEG, and income additional to state pension and supplementary pension.

Simple random sample

a systematic random sample of electors was selected from the electoral register. Eligible responden

Face-to-face interview

Diaries

Travel diaries