Id argue against public transport not being convenient older people, certainly compared to other groups. I can see how public transport is more of a challenge for certain disabled groups. I can't see why taxis couldn't fill that role here though???
They can't drive by themselves, but can be driven in a car by friend or family, who will take them exactly to their final destination. Public transportation requires them to walk significant distance, climb stairs, etc, which is not nearly as convenient. Of course taxis are the alternative, but they are quite expensive, and taxi driver might not be as helpful and forgiving for their disabilities as a family member would.
Yep, taxi drivers are strangers, which is not desirable for people who need to be chaperoned, and in worse cases it puts those passengers at a risk of being taken advantage of (like being charged an unnecessarily higher fare, or not getting their forgotten belongings back.)
In a future where we get rid of private cars, we could have community taxis/buses that are trained to deal with these things.
Theres a woman near me with some kind of mental impairment that gets picked up and dropped off by a mini bus with a lift on the back, so the model obviously exists in some form.
Plus it doesn't rely on a support network that may not be there.
Interesting you pick that as your first point, as this is an argument for the opposite.
The 3 groups of people that can't drive, are these 2 and kids.