Research Article
Investigating the Perception of the Elderly Population About Comfort, Safety and Security When Using Active Modes of Transport
@INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-031-32029-3_26, author={Soraia Fel\^{\i}cio and Joana Hora and Marta Campos Ferreira and Diogo Abrantes and F\^{a}bio Luna and Jorge Silva and Miguel Coimbra and Teresa Galv\"{a}o}, title={Investigating the Perception of the Elderly Population About Comfort, Safety and Security When Using Active Modes of Transport}, proceedings={Wireless Mobile Communication and Healthcare. 11th EAI International Conference, MobiHealth 2022, Virtual Event, November 30 -- December 2, 2022, Proceedings}, proceedings_a={MOBIHEALTH}, year={2023}, month={5}, keywords={Active modes Comfort Safety Security Descriptive statistic Wilcoxon Rank Sum test Random Forest Erdely}, doi={10.1007/978-3-031-32029-3_26} }- Soraia Felício
Joana Hora
Marta Campos Ferreira
Diogo Abrantes
Fábio Luna
Jorge Silva
Miguel Coimbra
Teresa Galvão
Year: 2023
Investigating the Perception of the Elderly Population About Comfort, Safety and Security When Using Active Modes of Transport
MOBIHEALTH
Springer
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-32029-3_26
Abstract
Promoting active modes of transport, such as walking and cycling, has a positive impact on environmental sustainability and the health and well-being of citizens. This study explores the elderly population’s perception of comfort, safety and security when using active modes of transport. It begins with a systematic review of the literature considering research works that relate to active travel, the elderly population, and random forest. Then a questionnaire was applied to 653 participants and the results were analyzed. This analysis consisted of using statistics to evaluate the socio-demographic profile, the preferences regarding the use of active modes of this population, and the importance given to each dimension: comfort, safety, distance, and time, comparing these indicators through the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test and the Random Forest algorithm. The results showed that people over 56 years old walk as much as younger people. Furthermore, the importance given by this group of people to indicators referring to active modes is related to safety and security, distance, time, and comfort. The statistical results of the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test indicate the most important indicators: Adequate Travel Distance & Time and Existence of Commercial Areas by age group [0–55], and Absence of Allergenics and Existence of Green Areas by age group [56+]. Finally, the Random Forest algorithm provides the relative importance for both age groups, [0–55] and [56+], where the indicators that stand out in the [56+] age group, which is the focus of our study, are air quality, adequate travel distance & time, adequate crowd density, adequate thermal sensation, absence of allergenic, good street illumination level, adequate traffic volume, and adequate noise level.
