Transit Technology: Accessing the Metro Virtually

Public Transit

County of Los Angeles

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

Through Cyber-Seniors previous experience working with both the LA Metro and low-income older adults in Los Angeles, it is apparent that there are barriers in place that are not allowing older adults to have consistent access to the LA Metro's virtual services. Ridership is down across the Metro's 7 rail lines - currently sitting at 58% of pre-pandemic levels (LA Metro, 2023). To combat this, LA Metro is relying on older adults to utilize their TAP Cards which provide reduced fares for those 62 or older - $1.75 to just $0.75 during peak hours (LA Metro, LA Daily News). While this change is helpful in terms of reducing the price barrier, older adults need assistance in purchasing and reloading TAP Cards, which can be done conveniently through the web or through a smartphone or smartwatch. LA Metro and their older adult riders need assistance is creating tech-based training content and pushing it out to both online and offline older adults.

Cyber-Seniors' is looking to build off of the ongoing and previous success that we have achieved in Los Angeles. Through our work in the CHAT program, Cyber-Seniors has been able to work directly with over 500 older adults, providing IPad training and helping them feel safe, secure and comfortable using the Internet. In 2022, we were able to work alongside the LA Metro to create custom webinar content covering their transit apps: TAP LA, Metro Micro and Transit Watch. Cyber-Seniors will create an expanded hybrid-presentation series covering topics such as the TAP LA app, utilizing transit apps, virtual bus and rail tours exploring common routes, and a web presentation of the new Regional Connector Project. Cyber-Seniors' plans to work with Los Angeles-based volunteers to create this content, drawing from Cyber-Seniors' existing volunteer network as well as working with local high schools, youth organizations, and colleges to draw in new volunteers. These presentations will be available virtually in webinar format and will also be presented in-person by our Cyber-Seniors staff, in collaboration with the LA Metro and their volunteer teams. Cyber-Seniors' wants to ensure this program is accessible to older adults who may not be comfortable using the internet and technology. To address this, Cyber-Seniors' will run a large-scale outreach program, including taking out ads in neighbourhood newspapers, to promote the series and Cyber-Seniors' free tech training services.

Cyber-Seniors envisions a comprehensive system whereby older adults are not only provided with educational resources covering the LA Transit system, but also receive the necessary tech training that enables them to use Metro's existing virtual services. This program will result in more older adults being able to access all LA Metro's virtual tools, designed specifically to remove the barriers older adults may face when accessing transit services. Being able to use the TAP app will result in even higher ridership amongst older adults, as using it provides discounted fares for those aged 62+. Cyber-Seniors' Metro-specific resources will combine with our general, free, tech training services and an all-encompassing outreach project to increase the technological proficiency of hundreds of older adults. Using our partnerships in LA, this project will be scaled for long-term sustainability and success.

Cyber-Seniors' has previously worked alongside the LA Metro, creating custom web content covering 3 distinct transit apps: TAP LA, TransitWatch, and Metro Micro. Cyber-Seniors, in partnership with the LA Metro, was able to provide educational resources to 1000+ older adults through our Metro-specific webinars. Cyber-Seniors is also actively doing tech training in Los Angeles as a selected vendor for the California Department of Aging & City of LA's CHAT program. Cyber-Seniors' professional training staff have completed iPad training with over 500 low-income older adults. Cyber-Seniors utilizes the following surveys to measure the program impact on older adults: ? the "Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6)", ? the Behaviour and Use of the Internet Scale", and ? the "Digital Competence Scale"