Enhancing Senior Mobility: Distributional Impacts And Equity Implications Of Infrastructure Investments For An Ageing Population

The rapid ageing of contemporary societies raises critical questions regarding how transport systems can equitably accommodate the mobility needs of older adults. This paper examines the distributional impacts of infrastructure investments aimed at improving senior mobility, with particular attention to spatial and socio economic disparities within elderly populations. The central research question asks to what extent mobility oriented infrastructure investments for older adults mitigate or exacerbate pre existing inequalities in accessibility and welfare across different senior groups. The paper adopts an accessibility and welfare based analytical perspective aligned with distributionally weighted cost benefit analysis. It evaluates a range of interventions, including barrier free urban design, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, public transport accessibility improvements, and demand responsive transport services. The analysis shows that when investments are explicitly aligned with baseline accessibility deficits and demographic vulnerabilities, they generate substantial equity gains, particularly for low income seniors, individuals with functional limitations, and residents of peripheral or underserved areas. In contrast, interventions that are poorly targeted or implicitly assume high levels of physical or digital capability risk reinforcing existing inequalities. The paper contributes by developing a formal distributional assessment framework for senior mobility investments, linking accessibility gains to welfare and health outcomes, and providing equity oriented guidance for transport appraisal and planning in ageing societies.