Designing Transport for an Ageing Population

Rail Delivery Group’s plans to close railway ticket offices across England have raised concerns among both rail staff and customers. The closure of over 1,000 ticket offices in the next three years, leaving only the busiest stations operational, is a significant change that will impact customer experience. There may be even be a disproportionate impact for many older adults who are more likely to use in person services. 

For many people, having a staffed ticket office can be crucial to provide a point of information or contact, particularly for those of us with accessibility issues or specific requirements.

The increasing reliance on digital interfaces in our society raises concerns about disenfranchising some older and more vulnerable users. Fortunately, there are entrepreneurs and innovators who are actively working on solutions to ensure greater inclusivity in the UK’s transportation system. The Transport Pathfinder Innovation Programme, launched by Design Age Institute with support  from Innovate UK, recently provided funding to four companies focusing on designing transport options that are safe, affordable, sustainable and desirable for an ageing population.

Meet the Businesses

Inclusive Wayfinding Toolkit by Applied Information Group UK Limited. This toolkit aims to develop an improved wayfinding system for walking and cycling throughout the UK, specifically addressing the needs of the diverse ageing marketplace. By enhancing mobility, socialisation, and access to local services, the toolkit aims to generate connection, safety, and confidence for transport users.

BriteWay-XR by Briteyellow Limited, involves the development of a connected guidance app and web portal. This technology enables safer and more accessible journeys for all, particularly older people and those with reduced mobility. By utilising virtual reality and augmented reality navigation with indoor position tracking, BriteWay-XR provides real-time support, accessibility information, and intelligent routing to ensure individuals can travel independently with confidence.

Waymap Newcastle, developed by Waymap, aims to make cities easier to navigate for everyone through the development of more accessible navigation tools, specifically designed for users to navigate their local area. The app works both indoors and outdoors to provide audio instructions to guide individuals within a metre of their desired location, regardless of GPS signal. Waymap Newcastle aims to increase confidence in independent travel for all users.

These initiatives aim to improve the ageing population’s confidence in using public transport and increase independence. While digital solutions cannot always replicate the human interactions many of us are used to at transport hubs and stations, innovative projects like these have the potential to enhance the travel experience of all passengers. They can enable more joyful journeys whether on foot, wheels or tracks! 

As increased digitisation removes in-person assistance in many day to day activities, design has a vital role to play in creating positive and successful user experiences. Increased research and funding for design initiatives can help to ensure access and inclusion for people of all ages and abilities.