Active ageing, social inclusion, and public transportation: A policy analysis and narrative review

The need for urban, health, and transportation services is evolving as the population ages. It is becoming more widely acknowledged that mobility is necessary for later-life autonomy, health, and social engagement. In order to analyse senior mobility within a framework for sustainable mobility, this narrative study synthesizes data from recent research as well as Italian reforms and European initiatives. Digital exclusion, affordability, service coverage and dependability, and micro-access are the four recurring obstacles that have been found. This current study offers further insights into the importance of safety perceptions, psychological variables, and the necessity of hybrid digital/analogue information systems. Although the long‑term viability and equity of these options remain uncertain, the evidence points to companionship‑oriented services as a viable complement to traditional public transportation. Data show that user‑centric integrated mobility packages—those that weave together inclusion, affordability, reliable service, solid infrastructure and psychosocial support—outperform fragmented initiatives. While Italian and broader European policy frameworks are increasingly acknowledging these concerns, systematic intersectional evaluation is still needed to guarantee both effectiveness and equity. When mobility is seen as both a right and a competency, it generally takes its place as an element of inclusive sustainable ageing. Holistic, cross‑cutting approaches that go beyond single‑issue remedies can produce improvements in health, strengthen social cohesion and enhance independence.