It also exacerbates existing social and economic inequalities in our society, especially in central cities and rural areas. California has been engaged in a pattern of growth that has encouraged urban sprawl at the expense of central cities and rural areas. As development moves outward from these central cities, employment growth, especially for low-skill jobs, has occurred overwhelmingly in the suburbs where public transportation is inadequate and housing is usually more expensive. In the Bay Area over 400,000 working age residents, mostly low-income and minorities, do not have access to a vehicle.4 Lack of transportation is one of the major obstacles preventing people from getting off, and staying off welfare. Thus, many welfare recipients remain isolated in central cities or rural areas where inadequate transportation prevents them from finding employment.
Transportation is an essential component of independent living for many senior citizens.
It also serves as a way for them to maintain connections with the community and con-tinue to interact socially. It can be devastating to seniors to lose their personal mobility. Without adequate public transportation or the help of friends and family, being unable to drive can lead to isolation, depression and loss of ability to live independently. This issue is becoming increasingly important as the number and proportion of elderly people in our society increases. Nationally, there are 33.9 million seniors, over 3 million of whom are located in the state of California.