National-level characteristics of paratransit riders in the United States

Background: Historically, limited information has been available on the individual- and household-level characteristics that associate with use of paratransit. An improved understanding of these associations could help service providers better estimate the needs of their ridership. Objective: We addressed this knowledge gap by providing an overarching picture of the characteristics of paratransit riders in the United States. The research question for this study was: What individual- and household-level characteristics are associated with use of paratransit? Methods: We used data from the 2017 iteration of the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) to answer the research question. We examined the associations between self-reported use of paratransit and relevant individual and household characteristics, including health-related variables (e.g., self-reported health, medical conditions, use of mobility devices), using binomial logistic regression. Results: Some of the strongest predictors of paratransit use included identifying as a race other than white, being an immigrant, having greater educational attainment, renting one's home, not owning vehicles, not driving, having worse self-reported health, and using a mobility device. Discussion: Results suggested that social disadvantage predicts use of paratransit, though only for some characteristics, including health status and use of mobility devices. The results revealed what characteristics associated with paratransit use, but not why those associations occurred. Future research, especially qualitative, may investigate the drivers of some of the more complex findings—for example, the relationships between socioeconomic status, education, and use of paratransit services.