Aged and wheeled mobility in transit-oriented development: The capabilities approach

Abstract

Transit-oriented development (TOD) aims to create pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods around transit hubs to improve urban mobility. However, it often overlooks the specific transportation needs of people with limited mobility. This study adopts Sen’s capabilities approach (CA) and the concept of conversion factors to analyze how ordinary pedestrians, the elderly, and wheelchair users transform planned catchment areas into functional capability spaces. Our focus is on understanding these conversion factors, which highlight both environmental and individual constraints when converting resources into capabilities. Our findings reveal significant disparities in walking environments between the initially planned and the realized catchment areas, as well as disparities between individuals with and without physical limitations. This study complements established quantitative methods, enhancing the application of the CA for evaluation. It provides a more precise assessment of pedestrian infrastructure and advocates for inclusive design improvements in the context of TOD cities and an aging population.