The Dutch elderly's preferences toward a smart demand-responsive transport service

Abstract The ageing of the population poses mobility-related challenges worldwide. The emergence of new transport services that utilise technological innovations allows for new, more convenient ways to provide demand-responsive transport services in areas with limited or no regular public transport service. The question is how the features of these new services are preferred by all age groups, in particular, those with limited mobility, such as the elderly. In this study, we evaluate the preference of the elderly toward Breng flex, a smart Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) service offered in two adjacent Dutch cities and their surroundings. We combine results from expert interviews (n = 4), a face-to-face survey with elderly non-users of Breng flex (n = 38), and an online survey of Breng flex users of all ages (n = 958). The results illustrate fourteen features of smart forms of DRT that are preferred by the elderly, three of which are identified here for the first time. We discuss the trade-off between various features for the case study area and make suggestions regarding the design of a mobility service that can improve accessibility of the elderly.