20.500.12556/DKUM-98112 Determinants of fare-free public transport demand among older adults evidence from nationwide smart-card data Fare-free public transport policies are widely implemented to improve accessibility for older adults, yet their effects vary across spatial contexts. Population ageing further increases the need for accessible mobility, while intelligent transport systems (ITS) enable the use of large-scale operational data for evidence-based transport planning. This study examines the determinants of fare-free public transport demand using nationwide smart-card validation data from Slovenia, where free travel for residents aged 65 and over was introduced in 2020. The analysis combines IJPP smart-card data with selected socio-economic, service-level and spatial indicators and applies bivariate correlation and regression analysis at the regional level. The results reveal substantial regional variation in demand intensity. Service availability shows the strongest positive association with usage, while car ownership exhibits a moderate negative relationship. In contrast, economic indicators and population density show limited explanatory power. These findings indicate that differences in realised demand are primarily shaped by service and accessibility conditions rather than pricing alone. The study highlights the importance of integrating fare policies with service provision when planning mobility systems in ageing societies. fare-free public transport policy smart-card data analysis mobility of older adults public transport demand linear regression intelligent transport systems (ITS) javni prevoz starejši občani mobilnost brezplačne vozovnice pametne kartice inteligentni transportni sistemi analiza podatkov linearna regresija true false true MDPI Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Članek v reviji 2026-05-18 09:26:15 2026-05-18 09:26:15 2026-05-19 03:11:11 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2026 0 0 13 str. št. 10, št. članka 4805 let. 18 12. maj 2026 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 2026-03-27 2026-05-06 2026-05-12 656.025.2:656.1 278422531 10.3390/su18104805 2071-1050 sustainability-18-04805.pdf sustainability-18-04805.pdf 1 F10E378559473BE80E2140A7A5689F06 4cccc367837adfc37a788244ce507cac5c8ac7c27a90fc67a6315274bbbdf86e 0588f536-528b-11f1-9c5f-00155d0001a1 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=206170 https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/18/10/4805 1 c608654f-528a-11f1-9c5f-00155d0001a1 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=206169 Fakulteta za gradbeništvo, prometno inženirstvo in arhitekturo 0 0 0