Could connected, autonomous and digitised transport technologies improve older people's lives and sense of belonging? Evidence from a Southern European metropolis

This study investigates whether connected, autonomous and digitised transport technologies could improve the lives of older people and strengthen their sense of belonging using as a case study, the metropolitan environment of Athens, Greece. Data was collected from 205 participants aged 60 and over via hard copy questionnaires to explore their awareness, accessibility-themed perceptions and approval of emerging transport technologies. Although participants had little familiarity with technologies such as Autonomous Vehicles, Mobility-as-a-Service, travel guidance apps, assistive and real-time information technologies, they recognised the potential benefits of improved quality of life and social inclusion. Through ordinal regression modelling we found that existing Internet usage and perceptions reflecting the possibility for increased autonomy significantly predicted positive perceptions towards these emerging transport technologies, while concerns about cybersecurity breaches, extra costs and employment market disruption emerged as significant barriers to acceptance. The results show a significant digital divide among participants, almost half of whom said they do not use the Internet and most of whom reported dissatisfaction with current institutional support for technology adoption. While connected, autonomous and digitised transport technologies hold significant potential for improving the mobility and social inclusion of older adults in Athens, realising this potential will require targeted efforts to overcome the digital divide, address safety concerns, ensure affordability and provide adequate support and training systems for technology adoption.