A Study on Evaluation of Accessibility to Shopping and Medical Facilities by Elderly and Non-elderly Residents

- Case Study on Higashiomi City in Shiga Prefecture

Abstract

In Japan, mainly in small and medium-sized cities, urban areas have expanded and shopping and medical facilities have moved to the suburbs. As a result, most residents cannot do activities in their daily lives such as going shopping and going to the hospital without a car for transportation. This study aims to build a choice behavior model of shopping and medical destinations by applying the random utility theory, on the basis of results to a questionnaire given to residents in a study area by the authors. The accessibilities to shopping and medical destinations, which can be derived from the choice behavior model, are measured in each residential zone according to elderly and non-elderly residents. Next, the zones are analyzed for measures that should be taken to improve access to those destinations.