BEST PRACTICES FOR ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT by C G B (Kit) Mitchell
Independent mobility is necessary for independent living
Many people with disabilities use cars, either as driver or passenger Those who rely on public transport need a range of options rail, bus, taxi, dial a ride Everybody needs mobility as a pedestrian or assisted walker
This talk touches on rail transport, but focuses on accessibility for pedestrians and on local bus passengers
In most countries, around 12 to 16 per cent of the population have some degree of disability The probability of experiencing a disability of some kind increases with age
Percent with difficulty or. unable to manage 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 PERSONS WITH MOBILITY DIFFICULTIES AND UNABLE TO MANAGE ON OWN - BRITAIN men with mobility difficulties men unable to walk on own women with mobility difficulties women unable to walk on own 16-64 65-74 75-79 80-84 85+ Age group
Disabilities can be locomotive (walking, climbing, balancing), sensory (seeing or hearing), cognitive impairment or mental health problems. A significant minority of disabled people have multiple impairments
ACCESS TO RAILWAYS
Accessible rail services Issues Access to station platforms; Getting from platform to the train; Narrow doors and corridors in trains; Places for wheelchairs; Toilets on trains
Access to station platforms
LEIPZIG STATION STAIRS TO PLATFORM LEVEL
PASSENGERS CARRY BAGS AND BABIES THE STAIRS CAUSE DIFFICULTIES FOR MANY PASSENGERS Baby buggies Luggage
Stairs and escalator at Dutch station
Elevator at metro station - UK
Access from platform to train
High platforms make access easier
High platforms make access easier
Portable ramp being fitted
Ramp ready for use
Passenger boards
Space for wheelchair Britain
One solution for low platform is to build a short length of raised platform, then use a bridge at the train door
Local raised platform - Canada
Local raised platform - Canada
Local raised platform - Canada
Local raised platform - Canada
Mobile lift to load wheelchair Switzerland
Information at stations - Britain
Information at stations - Japan
Information at stations - Japan
PEDESTRIANS
Pedestrians need - Easy walking conditions; - Routes avoiding steps; - Direct routes; - Safe road crossings; - Personal security; and - A good environment.
Sufficient path width, good surface This 1.7m path is barely wide enough: 1.8 2.0m would be better
Powered wheelchair on cycle path
Ramped kerbs help everybody
Plentiful seats and resting places 10% of adults cannot walk 400m without a rest; 5% cannot walk 50m without a rest
Pedestrian priority for reduced traffic, safety to walk and a good environment
Pedestrianised Jyväskylä, Finland
Pedestrian priority street - York, England
Pedestrian priority street - York, England
Pedestrian priority street - Istanbul
Narrowed road - Toulouse
Pedestrian friendly - Copenhagen
Residential areas - woonerf - Netherlands
Home zone Britain safe for children
Road crossings
Visibility is better if the sidewalk is extended Pedestrians can see traffic Drivers can see pedestrians
Road narrowed at crossing - England Ramped kerb with tactile warning
Central refuges, to divide a two-way road into two one-way roads
Pedestrian refuge on 2-way road
Side road junction with centre refuge
Light-controlled crossings (PUFFINs) that extend the time for slow walkers Head to watch traffic Head to watch pedestrians on crossing Ramped kerb, tactile warning
Road raised to sidewalk level at crossing Crossing lights with pedestrian call button and audio signal Tactile warning strip at edge of sidewalk
Side road speed table - London
Bollards to keep vehicles off footway
LOCAL BUSES
Access to local buses has been transformed by the introduction of low floor buses
Low floor bus - easy for everybody Bus kneels to reduce step height No internal step at entrance or exit
Passenger in a wheelchair boards using the ramp Call button for wheelchair ramp
Entrance ramp - Warsaw
WHEELCHAIR POSITION LONDON Wheelchair unrestrained against backrest in safe compartment Stanchion prevents sideways movement of wheelchair
Wheelchair position - Barcelona Seatbelt for security
Low-floor tram in service - Dresden, Germany
Bus stops Buses can get closer to the kerb at bus stops if the sidewalk is extended into the road about 2 metres
PROJECTING BUS STOP BOARDER OR CAPE Sidewalk built-out about 2 metres at bus stop Sidewalk extended into road 1.8 2.0m Bus at stop Parking Sidewalk Shelter 9 to 13m Parking Guard post with reflective markings
Bus boarder, Belfast
This type of bus stop can have the sidewalk raised to provide level boarding
Pavement raised at bus stop
Level boarding at a raised bus stop Platform level with bus entrance
Where low floor buses are not practical or affordable, buses can be improved by small design changes
Low steps, good handrails, plentiful stanchions and grab handles, make buses much easier to use. Training drivers to wait until passengers are seated reduces accidental falls
Low step and good handrails Handrails each side of entrance, colour contrasted Retractable lower step
Low steps at low cost - Britain
Many stanchions to hold Colour contrast for easy visibility Colour contrast on step edges
Destination signs and communication equipment
Destination display
Information for passengers at bus stops
Timetable and map at bus stops
TAXIS
Wheelchair accessible taxi - UK
Wheelchair accessible taxi - UK
Wheelchair accessible taxi - UK
Wheelchair accessible taxi - UK
Wheelchair accessible taxi - UK
Accessible transport needs much more than good infrastructure and accessible vehicles. As well as information, access requires trained staff, policies to support accessibility, and reliability to give confidence.
Getting these soft factors correct can be much more difficult than providing infrastructure and vehicles. Operators must make the users requirements their first priority.
A family of public transport services offers choice: - Accessible main public transport; - Service or community bus routes; - Taxis, some accessible; - Specialised Dial-a-Ride; and - Good pedestrian infrastructure.
The family of services, to give choice Accessible transit Taxis, some accessible Service Routes Paratransit
COMMUNITIES AND LAND USE
Communities can be designed to be more suitable for an older population. These are also likely to be sustainable environmentally. They require:- - Mixed land use to reduce journey lengths; - Good pedestrian infrastructure for safe walking; - Good public transport; - Not car dependent.
UNIVERSAL DESIGN Designing and operating transport services in ways that are easy for people with disabilities to use makes them easier for everybody
Creating an inclusive world A pathway for all
Applying existing knowledge of people s requirements, universal design, trained staff and good management practices, we can make the world inclusive.