Accessibility vs walkability: Exploring ‘complete’ accessibility to care destinations

Mobility of care refers to the daily travel related to caregiving responsibilities, such as errands, shopping, caring for dependents, and health appointments. This travel is rarely undertaken using public transport in the North American context. Using Hamilton, Canada, as a case study, this article explores one potential reason why transit use may be low for care trips: low ‘complete’ accessibility (combined spatial accessibility and walkability at the destination). ‘Complete’ accessibility refers to the combination of spatial accessibility to destinations by transit (e.g., how many destinations can one access within 30 min by transit?) and walkability (e.g., once one arrives at a transit stop, can they walk to their destination?). Walkability is assessed through a peer-reviewed built environment audit tool in four areas of the city: two with high and two with low spatial accessibility. Results show that care locations with better transit accessibility have superior walkability: they scored 19% higher on the walkability audit. While this was expected, the audit also reveals significant deficiencies in walkability across the city with destinations scoring on average only 47% on the audit. This suggests that unwalkable areas may deter transit use for care trips – even in areas with high spatial accessibility to care destinations by transit. Both urban and suburban areas struggle with infrastructure issues that encourage car use. Across categories of care destinations, grocery destinations exhibit the lowest walkability scores. By bridging spatial accessibility with walkability, the research finds that poor walkability at mobility of care destinations may be hindering transit use for these trips, ultimately deterring more sustainable modes of transportation. • Serious deficiencies in walkability are present across Hamilton's care destinations. • Care locations with better transit accessibility tend to have better walkability. • Grocery destinations have the lowest walkability scores. • A lack of walkable infrastructure at care destinations may discourage transit use for mobility of care.