IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/transa/v204y2026ics0965856425004586.html

Impact of bridging technology on older adults’ use of demand-responsive transit in a super-aged society

Author

Listed:
  • Oh, Dain
  • Lee, Eun Hak
  • Kim, Hyunmyung
  • Kim, Eui-Jin

Abstract

Aging populations worldwide face increasing mobility challenges, particularly in rural areas where conventional public transit is limited. Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT) systems have emerged as a key solution to improve accessibility for older adults. However, low levels of digital literacy create significant barriers to accessing these services. To address this barrier, bridging technologies serve as behavioral nudges, linking advanced systems with simple, user-friendly interfaces. This study examines the impact of such a bridging technology on reshaping demand for DRT and Fixed-Route Transit (FRT) in South Korea, a rapidly aging society where this challenge is particularly acute. Specifically, we focus on a physical call button installed in senior centers, which enables older adults to connect directly with a customer service operator and request DRT service to their destination. While South Korea provides the empirical context, the study offers insights that may be relevant to other aging societies facing similar mobility challenges. The causal impact of this bridging technology is evaluated in Cheongju, South Korea. Results show that approximately 80% of service areas experienced an increase in DRT trips following the introduction of the bridging technology. This growth reflects two key trends: increased use of both DRT and FRT services, and additional DRT trips generated by modal shifts from non-public transits or newly induced demand. DRT trip growth was significantly associated with built environment characteristics, including senior center density and distance to medical facilities. These findings highlight the potential of simple, low-tech interventions to improve accessibility of advanced public transit for aging populations.

Suggested Citation

  • Oh, Dain & Lee, Eun Hak & Kim, Hyunmyung & Kim, Eui-Jin, 2026. "Impact of bridging technology on older adults’ use of demand-responsive transit in a super-aged society," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:204:y:2026:i:c:s0965856425004586
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tra.2025.104825
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856425004586
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tra.2025.104825?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yi Xu & Yuanyuan Shi & Tianyu Qin, 2023. "Challenges in smart tourism: a media content analysis of digital barriers for senior tourists in China," Information Technology & Tourism, Springer, vol. 25(4), pages 665-682, December.
    2. Wong, R.C.P. & Yang, Linchuan & Szeto, W.Y. & Li, Y.C. & Wong, S.C., 2020. "The effects of accessible taxi service and taxi fare subsidy scheme on the elderly's willingness-to-travel," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 129-136.
    3. Zhang, Yunchang & Fricker, Jon D., 2021. "Quantifying the impact of COVID-19 on non-motorized transportation: A Bayesian structural time series model," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 11-20.
    4. Shital Desai & Colleen McGrath & Heather McNeil & Heidi Sveistrup & Josephine McMurray & Arlene Astell, 2022. "Experiential Value of Technologies: A Qualitative Study with Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-20, February.
    5. Sergei Dytckov & Jan A. Persson & Fabian Lorig & Paul Davidsson, 2022. "Potential Benefits of Demand Responsive Transport in Rural Areas: A Simulation Study in Lolland, Denmark," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, March.
    6. Misra, Aditi & Shirgaokar, Manish & Weinstein Agrawal, Asha & Dobbs, Bonnie & Wachs, Martin, 2022. "How older adults use Ride-hailing booking technology in California," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 11-30.
    7. Knierim, Lukas & Schlüter, Jan Christian, 2021. "The attitude of potentially less mobile people towards demand responsive transport in a rural area in central Germany," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhu, Yuanfang & Jiang, Meilan & Morikawa, Takayuki & Yamamoto, Toshiyuki & Zhao, Zhijian & Sato, Hitomi & Ogai, Yusaku & Nakashita, Misaki & Matsuzoe, Shizuko & Ueki, Miwa, 2026. "Exploring preferences for demand-responsive transport in rural Japan: An integrated probabilistic choice set and latent variable approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    2. Kirtonia, Sajeeb & Sun, Yanshuo, 2022. "Evaluating rail transit's comparative advantages in travel cost and time over taxi with open data in two U.S. cities," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 75-87.
    3. Shuai Yu & Bin Li & Dongmei Liu, 2023. "Exploring the Public Health of Travel Behaviors in High-Speed Railway Environment during the COVID-19 Pandemic from the Perspective of Trip Chain: A Case Study of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-22, January.
    4. Valentina Caiola & Elina Moreira Kares & Margherita Pillan & Davide Spallazzo & Aarni Tuomi, 2023. "Remote Cultural Events: Investigating the Usefulness of Live Streaming for Creating Cultural and Social Engagement in Communities of Older Adults," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, July.
    5. Jiayi Li & Zhaocheng He & Jiaming Zhong, 2022. "The Multi-Type Demands Oriented Framework for Flex-Route Transit Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-23, August.
    6. Xingpei Yan & Zheng Zhu, 2021. "Quantifying the impact of COVID-19 on e-bike safety in China via multi-output and clustering-based regression models," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(8), pages 1-15, August.
    7. Ji, Yuxiong & Zhou, Minhang & Zheng, Yujing & Shen, Yu & Du, Yuchuan, 2024. "Urban passenger-and-package sharing transportation by e-hailing taxis: A simulation-based pricing analysis in shanghai," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 138-151.
    8. Yang, Chao & Wan, Zhiyang & Yuan, Quan & Zhou, Yang & Sun, Maopeng, 2023. "Travel before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: Exploring factors in essential travel using empirical data," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    9. Dou Wenkang & Zhang Jie, 2024. "Spatial Pattern and Driving Mechanism of Urban Taxi Fares in China," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440241, April.
    10. Jun Zhang & Jingyi Qin & Jinliang Shao & Jiajun Shen & Bin Lv, 2024. "Collaborative optimization of multi-modal transport solutions for urban-rural bus routes," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(10), pages 1-19, October.
    11. Yu, Jie & Liu, Yue & Zhao, Jing, 2024. "Tailoring age-friendly technology-enabled transportation service solutions in rural communities," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    12. Meijering, Louise & Weitkamp, Gerd, 2024. "‘I choose the quiet roads’: Everyday mobility in later life on the urban–rural continuum of the Northern Netherlands," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    13. Witold Torbacki, 2021. "Achieving Sustainable Mobility in the Szczecin Metropolitan Area in the Post-COVID-19 Era: The DEMATEL and PROMETHEE II Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-25, November.
    14. Kim, Eui-Jin & Oh, Dain & Kim, Hyunmyung, 2026. "Causal impacts of demand responsive transit on public transit demand: A spatial assessment framework," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    15. Zhou, Kaile & Hu, Dingding & Li, Fangyi, 2022. "Impact of COVID-19 on private driving behavior: Evidence from electric vehicle charging data," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 164-178.
    16. Wong, R.C.P. & Szeto, W.Y., 2022. "The effects of peak hour and congested area taxi surcharges on customers’ travel decisions: Empirical evidence and policy implications," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 78-89.
    17. Circella, Giovanni & Makino, Keita & Matson, Grant & Malik, Jai, 2022. "The Pulse of the Nation on 3 Revolutions: Annual Investigation of Nationwide Mobility Trends," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt6h44p57d, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    18. Maria Cieśla & Sandra Kuśnierz & Oliwia Modrzik & Sonia Niedośpiał & Patrycja Sosna, 2021. "Scenarios for the Development of Polish Passenger Transport Services in Pandemic Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-16, September.
    19. Cavallaro, Federico & Nocera, Silvio, 2023. "Flexible-route integrated passenger–freight transport in rural areas," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    20. Joanna Miklinska, 2023. "Selected Urban Mobility Issues of the Elderly:The Polish Experience," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 904-920.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:transa:v:204:y:2026:i:c:s0965856425004586. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/547/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.