Improving the mobility of older adults has been a major goal of transportation programs and policies for the elderly at both the federal and local levels. To examine reasons why eligible elderly individuals in urban areas do not use available special transport services, 140 elderly persons in the Washington, D.C. area were surveyed on the extent of their utilization of services and on demographic characteristics, including socioeconomic status, household composition, education, employment, social contacts, and needs. In addition, a telephone survey of 27 service providers was conducted to determine problems encountered in reaching elderly populations and possible solutions for the problems. An analysis of the results showed that less than 15 percent of the urban elderly who need special transport services use them. Reasons for nonuse fell four areas: (1) alternative available; (2) lack of knowledge; (3) service characteristics; and (4) pride. Nonusers who needed special transport services were often less active, less independent, and less healthy than the elderly persons who needed and used such services. Providers of special services relied on agency referrals and "word-of-mouth" to identify and service elderly populations. The findings suggest that service delivery agencies in urban areas must become more aggressive in exploring alternative methods for reaching elderly persons who need transport services. (Author/BL)