Moving to belong: A cross-national qualitative exploration of mobility, social connection, and transport disadvantage among older adults in Ireland, Scotland, and Germany

Transport disadvantage among older adults is recognised as a dimension of social exclusion, yet how mobility conditions shape social connection and belonging in later life remains underexplored across different national contexts. This paper examines older adults’ experiences of navigating everyday life, accessing local services, and maintaining social connections across three urban settings: Edinburgh (Scotland), Balbriggan (Ireland), and Geretsried (Germany). The study draws on ethnographic walk-along interviews conducted in Geretsried (n = 28) and photovoice and focus-group research undertaken in Edinburgh (n = 5) and Balbriggan (n = 4). The analysis identifies three interconnected dimensions through which transport disadvantage can contribute to social exclusion: infrastructural barriers that restrict independent movement, urban change processes that have reduced the availability of affordable social venues and essential local services, and the cumulative effects of these conditions on older adults' relationships with place, community, and social connection. The effects of these dimensions varied according to local conditions and individual circumstances. While some participants adapted their routines, used alternative modes, or sought assistance, others were unable to overcome specific barriers, which affected their independence, social connections, and sense of belonging. Although these experiences were shaped by place, recurring patterns across the three settings suggest that transport disadvantage can also be produced by conditions extending beyond local contexts. Taken together, these findings highlight the value of understanding mobility infrastructure as social infrastructure, as well as the need for responses that account for both the broader social dimensions of mobility planning and the specificities of place.