Availability of Personal Transportation in Households of Elders: Age, Gender, and Residence Differences

Abstract

Using data from the 1% Public Use Microdata Sample of the 1980 Census of Population and Housing, we examined correlates of the availability of personal transportation in the households of elders. Results indicate that the availability of vehicles decreases with age, is highest for rural farm and lowest for central city residents, and is lower for women. Only 1.3% of rural farm men 65–74 lack access to a vehicle, but 57.8% of central city women 85 + are without personal transportation in their households.