Linking Transportation Access and Public Health

Millions of Americans miss medical care and other important day-to-day appointments due to a lack of access to reliable transportation.

1 minute read

January 17, 2024, 5:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Close-up of blurred empty vinyl chairs with person sitting in background and wheelchair visible in hospital waiting room.

chalongrat / Allen Park

Almost 6 percent of Americans were unable to reach medical appointments or other important activities due to a lack of reliable transportation in the last 12 months, reveals new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.

Steven Ross Johnson outlines the results in U.S. News & World Report, noting that “Overall, the data indicates between 13 million and 14 million adults in the U.S. had recently faced the issue in 2022, according to a CDC spokesperson.” Among people living below the federal poverty line, the rate increased to 16 percent.

Lack of access to transportation can impact people’s health over the short and long term. James Hardy of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, told U.S. News & World Report, “At its core, lack of reliable transportation creates a barrier for folks to get to the basic needs and services that families require in order to be healthy.”

For Hardy, this stems in part from the car-centric development that dominates most U.S. communities, limiting mobility for people who don’t own cars or can’t drive. Hardy notes that “narrowing health disparities tied to a lack of transportation will only come with more substantive changes to how government officials plan and invest in transportation.”

Thursday, January 11, 2024 in U.S. News & World Report

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Red and white "Wildfire Evacuation Route" sign on signpost.

Cal Fire Chatbot Fails to Answer Basic Questions

An AI chatbot designed to provide information about wildfires can’t answer questions about evacuation orders, among other problems.

July 10 - The Markup

Protester at Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles holding sign that says "Housing is a human right"

What Happens if Trump Kills Section 8?

The Trump admin aims to slash federal rental aid by nearly half and shift distribution to states. Experts warn this could spike homelessness and destabilize communities nationwide.

July 10 - Shelterforce Magazine

Aerial of rainbow painted crosswalks at large intersection in Castro District, Sna Francisco, California.

Sean Duffy Targets Rainbow Crosswalks in Road Safety Efforts

Despite evidence that colorful crosswalks actually improve intersection safety — and the lack of almost any crosswalks at all on the nation’s most dangerous arterial roads — U.S. Transportation Secretary Duffy is calling on states to remove them.

July 10 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA