A systematic review of public transport accessibility for people using mobility devices

Unsworth, Carolyn A.; So, Man Hei; Chua, Julian J.C.; Gudimetla, Prasad; Naweed, Anjum

doi:10.1080/09638288.2019.1697382

Cited by 36 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…However, public transportation does carry the expectation that a substantial proportion of wheeled mobility users, for instance, higher functioning users represented in this study, can independently use public transit under routine conditions without compromising safety, dignity and/or satisfaction on par with their ambulatory counterparts. Findings from this study indicate recurring usability concerns with access ramps, limited on-board circulation space, and inadequate wheeled mobility securement area and equipment [19,27,76]. Steep gradients, inadequate edge barriers, and thresholds at the leading edge on access ramps also contribute to accidents and injuries among wheeled mobility users [22].…”

Section: Implications For Accessible Public Transitmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Problems related to accessibility for wheeled mobility users on fixed-route transit buses are not unique to the US [27][28][29]. Many transit providers are keen to increase fixedroute ridership by wheeled mobility users and other passengers with disabilities in order to address soaring costs of providing curb-to-curb special transportation services (e.g., complementary ADA paratransit in the US) [30,31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wheeled Mobility Use on Accessible Fixed-Route Transit: A Field Study in Environmental Docility

Lim

D’Souza

2021

IJERPH

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Multiple field studies provide qualitative accounts of usability barriers experienced by users of wheeled mobility devices on public transit. This study aimed to examine these usability barriers from the theoretical perspective of Environmental Docility by quantifying the relationship between functional capabilities of wheeled mobility device users and ingress–egress performance on accessible fixed-route transit vehicles in an urban setting. Twenty-eight wheeled mobility users each completed three trips on a predetermined route through the local public transit system. Ingress and egress times, user-reported usability ratings and open-ended comments were analyzed. Regression analyses indicated significant interactions between age and minimum parallel-park length on ingress and egress times. Specifically, lower functional capability reflected in older age and less maneuvering ability predicted decreased performance (longer ingress–egress times), indicating less adaptability to environmental demands and agreement with the Environmental Docility Hypothesis. Usability ratings and comments revealed difficulty with negotiating access ramps and turning maneuvers in the vehicle interior and in proximity to other passengers. Despite compliance with accessibility standards, current design of transit vehicles present substantial usability barriers for wheeled mobility users. Environmental Docility provides a theoretical basis to identifying modifiable factors related to person and environment for improving usability of public transit for people aging and/or with mobility impairments.

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Section: Implications For Accessible Public Transitmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wheeled Mobility Use on Accessible Fixed-Route Transit: A Field Study in Environmental Docility

Lim

D’Souza

2021

IJERPH

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“…Under the Canada Transportation Act (1996), the Canadian Transportation Agency was made responsible for removing obstacles to mobility in all federally regulated (air, rail, marine, and interprovincial bus) transportation services and facilities. Despite these efforts, many people with disabilities continue to face barriers including physical and social barriers [3,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24] that limit their use of PT.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, Unsworth et al [ 20 ] examined, in their systematic review, the evidence that solely investigated the use of PT by mobility device users, which largely comprised people with mobility disabilities. The study identified problems encountered by mobility devices users, such as uneven pavement surfacing, lack of dropped curbs, steps instead of ramps, narrow doorways, controls for pedestrian lights or lift access that are too high, and badly designed street displays; problems with information being placed out of reading reach, inappropriate spaces for wheeled mobility devices, and lengthy wait times with little shelter [ 20 ]. Since the study excluded other types of disabilities such as visual; hearing; autism; and cognitive, mental, or intellectual disabilities, its findings cannot be generalized to all people with disabilities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Transport Accessibility for People With Disabilities: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Mwaka¹,

Best²,

Gamache³

et al. 2023

JMIR Res Protoc

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Background Transportation is essential for people of all ages and backgrounds to live a fulfilling and satisfying life. Public transport (PT) can facilitate access to the community and improve social participation. However, people with disabilities may encounter barriers or facilitators in the whole travel chain that can lead to negative or positive perceptions in terms of self-efficacy or satisfaction. These barriers may be perceived depending on the nature of the disability. Few studies have identified PT barriers and facilitators experienced by people with disabilities. However, findings were focused mainly on specific disabilities. Access requires broader considerations of barriers and facilitators for various types of disabilities. Objective This scoping review aims to describe the barriers and facilitators to the use of PT experienced by people with various disabilities in the whole travel chain and to explore perceived experiences, self-efficacy, and satisfaction when using PT. Methods A scoping review will be conducted using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist. The literature search will be conducted using the electronic databases MEDLINE, Transport Database, and PsycINFO via Ovid platform, Embase, and Web of Science from 1995 to 2022. Two reviewers will independently identify studies based on inclusion (published in English or French, outcomes on PT accessibility for people with disabilities, peer-reviewed or guideline reports or editorials) and exclusion (no full text, focused on a technology system, outcome validation study, study on no-fixed route PT accessibility, etc) criteria and extract the data. When a study has addressed the accessibility of multiple modes of PT, including fixed-route PT, it will be retained. However, only data on fixed-route PT will be extracted. Any related systematic reviews identified through the search will be retained, and the reference lists will be hand-searched and screened for inclusion criteria. Results The search we performed on July 21, 2022, in the databases mentioned above allowed us to retrieve 6399 citations. Of these citations, 31 articles were identified, and data extraction was performed. As of March 11, 2023, we have started data analysis. The findings will be synthesized narratively to summarize the barriers and facilitators to PT, perceived experiences with PT, self-efficacy for using PT, and satisfaction with PT according to the Human Development Model-Disability Creation Process conceptual framework. Conclusions The results of this scoping review could lead to a better understanding of the potential barriers and facilitators to the use of PT by people with various types of disabilities and how negative or positive experiences throughout the travel may influence their self-efficacy and satisfaction. The results may be used to provide recommendations to PT providers and policy makers to work together to make PT accessible, usable, and inclusive for all people with disabilities. Trial Registration Open Science Framework OSF.IO/2JDQS; https://osf.io/2jdqs International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/43188

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“…Survey participants identified that getting their mobility aid in and out of the bus and using the aid within the bus were particularly problematic due to the size of the mobility aid and accessories such as shopping baskets, and the interior space of the bus. This finding was reinforced by a systematic review of public transport access for people using mobility aids (Unsworth et al, 2019b). Of the 26 studies included in the review, 24 included information on buses, and while 14 studies investigated user experiences, five specifically examined bus formats and floor layouts and a further five focused on bus ramps and optimal ramp designs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 3D Measurement and Computerized Meshing Study to Promote Bus Ridership Among People Using Powered Mobility Aids

Unsworth

Chua

Gudimetla

2020

Front. Built Environ.

Self Cite

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People who use powered mobility aids such as wheelchairs and scooters need and want to use public transport. Buses are the most affordable and efficient form of public transport, capable of connecting people across local communities. However, with curbside rather than platform boarding and internal space limitations, buses also present many accessibility challenges for people using mobility aids during ingress, egress, and interior maneuverability. In Australia, people using mobility aids board low floor buses that are required to comply with the national bus accessibility standard, using the front doors. A new standard was recently created to provide a Blue Label identification for powered mobility aids suitable to access public transport. The accuracy of this standard to identify mobility aids suitable to use on buses has not been verified. This research used a world-first methodology that included 3-Dimensional (3D) scanning of 35 mobility aids and 21 buses. The resulting 735 scan combinations were efficiently meshed using Meshlab, an open-source software. The research demonstrated that (i) although none of the buses were compliant with the relevant standard in 3D, many could still facilitate the boarding of a variety of mobility aids, and (ii) the Blue Label, while a valuable guide, did not accurately identifying all mobility aids that would and would not be able to board buses. This research has shortlisted nine mobility aids that can be recommended to consumers as being able to fit all the full-size buses tested. The dimensions of mobility aids that appear to enable access on most buses were also identified for consumers to consider when purchasing a mobility aid. The novel 3D meshing methodology used in this research also revealed that most collision points between mobility aids and buses occur in the curved-corridor entry of the buses. To minimize this entry problem, future bus boarding designs should consider the option of double-door entry/exit in the middle of the bus, which is common in many other countries. Adoption of this strategy would mitigate some of the challenges that people using mobility aids encounter when accessing buses, thereby increasing public transport ridership among this group.

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A systematic review of public transport accessibility for people using mobility devices

Cited by 36 publications

References 52 publications

Wheeled Mobility Use on Accessible Fixed-Route Transit: A Field Study in Environmental Docility

Wheeled Mobility Use on Accessible Fixed-Route Transit: A Field Study in Environmental Docility

Public Transport Accessibility for People With Disabilities: Protocol for a Scoping Review

A 3D Measurement and Computerized Meshing Study to Promote Bus Ridership Among People Using Powered Mobility Aids

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