THE PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT: THE ACHILLES' HEEL OF TRAVEL BY LOW FLOOR BUS?

The first, preliminary part of this paper assesses the actual benefits of low floor buses to mobility impaired people in the UK. The main part describes a research project, whose results indicate that various barriers in the built environment might negate the potential of low floor buses for these people. Evidence from travel surveys shows that mobility impaired people travel by bus only about once a week on average. The problems of boarding and alighting from a bus are the greatest, but other important problems of access for them include uneven pavements, awkward kerbs, hills, roads without crossings, and broken paving stones. The research project on the travel environment for mobility impaired people was conducted by the University of Ulster in collaboration with several other organisations in Northern Ireland. 45 elderly people were interviewed in three urban areas, where local Age Concern groups were very active. Various environmental, personal and trip-related barriers to travel were identified in group discussions with these people. Problems included parking at bus stops, infrequent bus services, and poor pavement maintenance. Old people were also interviewed at home and on buses. Nearly 50 barriers were identified, and recommendations were made to negate them. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 890269.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0860502953
• Corporate Authors:

  PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

  Glenthorne House, Hammersmith Grove
  London W6OL9,   England 
• Authors:
  • LAVERY, I
  • DAVEY, S
• Conference:
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORT PLANNING AND OPERATIONS. PROCEEDINGS OF SEMINAR F HELD AT THE PTRC EUROPEAN TRANSPORT FORUM, BRUNEL UNIVERSITY, ENGLAND, 2-6 SEPTEMBER 1996. VOLUME P405
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 12 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Buses; Interviewing; Low floor vehicles; Mobility; Persons with disabilities; Prevention; Public transit; Travel; Urban areas; Walkways
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 9139: Accessibility; 1726: Disabled person; 2720: Footway; 9147: Interview; 698: Journey; 1285: Low floor vehicle; 9105: Mobility (pers); 9149: Prevention; 744: Public transport; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Security and Emergencies; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00739412
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 0-86050-295-3
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Aug 28 1997 12:00AM