Many people want to “age in place”, and that’s great. However, not everyone considers how they will get around living in that place, or how transportation can really make a place great to live in, or not. Transportation options for retirement are often an afterthought, but there’s good reason to plan ahead.

Have you considered what your transportation options will be when you are driving less or not at all? Or when your partner is no longer driving? If you don’t want to rely on others for rides all the time, it is worth looking into your transportation options if you are lucky enough to be able to decide where you will live.

Did you know? Research shows that the average male will outlive his driver licence by 7 years, and the average female by 10 years. For a smoother transition from driving, it might be a good idea to start trying out different transportation options before you stop driving.

Here are some things to consider when planning your transportation future:

• What’s the Walk score of where you are planning to live? Walk score measures the walkability index of addresses by looking at how many destinations are within walking distance. Click here to check your walk score.

• Which destinations that you frequent or will be frequenting are within walking to you?

• Where is the nearest bus stop? Is it walkable? Will it be as you get older? Where does the bus go? Does it go where you want to go? Do you know how to use the bus? If not, can you learn with a friend or through a workshop?

• Are there any community shuttles in your area you can access?

• Is there a volunteer ride program you can access?

• Do you feel comfortable walking in your area? Will you in a few years? How about cycling?

• Can you get to some or most places you want to go, without a car? Many transportation services prioritize medical appointments, so it’s worth thinking about how you will get more fun activities, like social spaces, volunteering etc.

• What is the cost of different transportation modes?

Click here for transportation options in Metro Vancouver.

Think about where you want to go, when you want to go, and how you will get there if you are no longer driving.