‘Now without my car I don’t know what I’d do’: The transportation needs of older people in rural Lincolnshire

Britain is ageing. By 2035 the number of people aged 65 and over will account for 23% of the total population. This increase will have an impact on the economy, the provision of goods and services, and the resources needed to ensure a high quality of life into old age and active participation in society. The importance of transport in addressing social exclusion in rural communities has been acknowledged for some time and in this article we describe and report on the challenges faced by older people in rural Lincolnshire when trying to maintain active lifestyles. Drawing on a series of focus groups with older people (8–10 per group) who seldom accessed public or community transport, we examine the challenges faced by older people when trying to make journeys for social, leisure and health purposes. What becomes apparent is that, while community transport services play a vital role in rural communities, many older people are confused or unclear about what these services do, how they can be used, and how to access them. This article suggests that these services are often poorly publicised and underused in some areas of the county and therefore those most likely to benefit from them may be the ones least likely to use them.