Mobility as Freedom: How Los Angeles Metro Is Empowering Older Adults

In a sprawling city designed around the automobile, losing the ability to drive can feel like losing one’s place in society. For thousands of older residents across Los Angeles County, public transportation represents not just convenience but essential access to healthcare, social connections, and independence.

This challenge sits at the heart of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s upcoming 9th Annual Older Adult Transportation Expo, a free event organized through Metro’s On the Move Riders Program, taking place on May 9 at the Pasadena Convention Center. Beyond merely providing schedules and route information, the program focuses on empowering older adults to use public transportation confidently, helping them maintain independence and access essential services.

“Go Metro: Your Ticket to the World,” this year’s theme, highlights how Metro can connect users to exciting destinations, cultural experiences, and everyday essentials.

The UCLA’s Luskin School has reported that transportation barriers disproportionately affect low-income seniors, causing reduced independence, missed medical appointments, and reduced access to essential services. According to the press release, transportation is a top barrier to healthcare for older adults, with a quarter of patients missing appointments due to lack of transit, often resulting in worsening health outcomes.

The one-day expo will feature educational panels, workshops, live demonstrations, and a transit resource fair. Attendees can learn about route planning, receive assistance with TAP cards, and discover various transit options available to older adults throughout Los Angeles County. The event supports mobility, access, and independence for older adults in Los Angeles County while advancing equity in public transportation use and promoting health, safety, and social engagement.

The program’s approach aligns with priorities outlined in the California Master Plan for Aging, which emphasizes age-friendly mobility, including accessible paratransit and escort services that help older adults remain socially connected and physically active. Existing programs like Pasadena’s Dial-A-Ride and senior TAP card programs are designed to close mobility gaps for aging residents.

Metro’s On the Move Riders Program focuses specifically on educating seniors about using transit through in-person workshops, travel training, and community tours. It serves as a key bridge to overcoming barriers related to technology and transit literacy, addressing the digital divide that many older adults face when accessing transportation services.

In a demonstration of its accessibility principles, the expo will feature free shuttle service between the Memorial Park A Line Station (125 E. Holly St., Pasadena, CA) and the Convention Center. These shuttles will run between Raymond Avenue and Holly Street, and the Convention Center every six minutes from 8:15 to 10:00 a.m. and again from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., making the event more accessible to those arriving by public transportation.

For older adults navigating Los Angeles without cars, learning to utilize public transportation effectively can provide connections not just to medical appointments and groceries, but to cultural institutions, social gatherings, and the broader community.

Older adults, caregivers, transit advocates, and anyone interested in learning how to navigate Metro with ease is invited to attend. Though admission is free, advance registration is required by May 2. Interested participants can RSVP online at metro.net/riding/move-riders-club, by calling 213-922-2299, or by emailing onthemove@metro.net.