Determinants of Transport Mode Choice among Older Adults in the Klang Valley: Evidence from a Multinomial Logistic Regression Analysis

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of transport mode choice among older adults in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, with particular attention to household resources,
health conditions and temporal travel patterns. Using survey data from 497 respondents aged 60 years and above, a Multinomial Logistic Regression (MNL) model
was employed to analyse factors influencing the use of private, public, active and multimodal transport options. While previous studies in the region have largely
focused on overall mobility participation, this study specifically investigates how older adults adapt their modal decisions within a rapidly urbanising developing
country context. The results indicate that vehicle ownership remains a dominant factor reinforcing reliance on private transport, whereas concession card ownership
and regular medical appointments significantly increase the likelihood of using public and multimodal transport. Walking difficulties are associated with shifts
toward more stable combinations of transport modes rather than complete withdrawal from travel. Differences across gender, ethnicity and household structure
further reflect the socio-cultural and multigenerational characteristics of Malaysian urban life. Temporal travel patterns also reveal lower public transport use during
weekend evenings, indicating variations in modal behaviour across different times of the week. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of improving transport
accessibility, expanding concession schemes and strengthening age-friendly transport systems to support inclusive mobility among older adults as Malaysia moves
toward aged nation status.