Smart Cities, Stranded Seniors? Assessing Digital Integration and Technological Barriers in Elderly Mobility

Malaysia is digitizing at an accelerated pace, especially in urban areas. Meanwhile, its population is rapidly ageing, leaving a narrow window to develop integrated mobility solutions for active ageing within the framework of smart cities. This research explores the use of transport technologies by the elderly in urban Malaysia and analyses the factors influencing their choices of transportation services. This study reviews different transport technologies, including e-hailing, online/contactless transport ticketing and payment, and other mobility technologies and services. The research employs a qualitative approach to understand transport-related concerns of the elderly in the urban area in Selangor. The main source of data was a series of in-depth interviews. The main influences on the elderly’s mobility behavior were found to be health conditions, personality, and travel confidence. Among the elderly with mobility challenges, there was a preference for private vehicles over public transport. Public transport was perceived as affordable and convenient. However, the elderly identified many usability barriers, including inadequate seating and extreme crowding. Many of the barriers would be mitigated with the use of various transportation mobility services. Generally, the elderly had positive views about safe, convenient, and affordable transport services. This study illustrates that incorporating integrated, accessible design and smart technology into the urban environments can provide secure, accessible transportation options for older adults living in ‘smart cities’.