Date on Senior Honors Thesis

5-2026

Document Type

Senior Thesis

Degree Name

B.S.

Department

Geography and Geosciences

Committee Chair

Wei Song

Committee Member

Matthew Ruther

Committee Member

Shawn Parkhurst

Author's Keywords

rural transportation; non-driving population; accessibility; Appalachian Kentucky

Abstract

Mobility and accessibility are key predictors in the way that people navigate their communities. However, many rural areas lack holistic transportation systems that support the needs of a diverse range of users. As a result, rural residents, especially rural non-drivers, often face barriers to equitable mobility and access to necessary resources, like healthcare. This study examines the role that mobility plays in facilitating access to healthcare facilities for driving and non-driving populations in Appalachian Kentucky. The study pairs the Enhanced 2-Step Floating Catchment Area method with a demographic index to evaluate mobility equity through spatial accessibility to primary care facilities. Both travel time adjustments and demographic vulnerability were used to represent the unique accessibility challenges faced by non-driving populations. The results of the study show accessibility disparities between both urban centers and outlying rural areas and driving and non-driving populations. These results can be used to assess the relative level of healthcare accessibility in Appalachian Kentucky, thus informing potential areas for the development of transportation policies and systems, particularly to increase accessibility for non-driving populations.

Lay Summary

In transportation practice, mobility refers to the ease through which people can move throughout their communities. Mobility is essential to the creation of equitable transportation systems across all backgrounds and modes of development, from urban to rural. Compared to their urban counterparts, rural communities often experience significant mobility constraints given more limited transportation systems and fewer alternatives to driving—like transit, walking, or biking. As a result, rural communities, especially rural non-drivers, may struggle to access necessary resources, including healthcare. Using this context, the study uses both spatial and demographic approaches to examine driver and non-driver accessibility to primary care facilities in Appalachian Kentucky. The study found that more rural parts of the study area had significantly lower accessibility than urban parts of the study areas and that non-drivers had significantly lower accessibility than drivers. The combined social and spatial nature of these results can be used to help guide policy development and practical solutions to increase equity and mobility throughout rural communities. 

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