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Enhancement of Communication in Intercity Buses

Transportation Development Centre of Transport Canada has identified shortcomings in the intercity bus travel of persons with sensory and communication impairments. Included are those who are blind, have low vision, deafness, are hard of hearing, or with impairments of communication arising from stroke, cerebral palsy, compromised intelligence, or linguistic problems arising from special cognitive conditions or with combinations of these conditions. To collect data, several methods were applied: (1) interviews with riders in the various categories of impairment; (2) interviews with mobility professionals working with individuals with impairments; (3) bus travel accompanying individuals with impairments in order to observe barriers first-hand; (4) review of previous studies on the enlargement of accessibility; (5) contact with manufacturers, designers, and their product literature; (6) interviews with management and operational staff of bus companies; and (7) interviews with bus operators associations. From this information, ideas of potentially useful features were assembled, rated for value and feasibility, and reviewed with TDC authorities. A bus was mocked-up for testing and parked at a major bus terminal. Approximately 25 individuals contributed their reactions in a structured but qualitative interview. Overall, the features were received with notable positive feeling both on the part of users and on the part of the bus industry. Responses were tabulated and the features re-appraised for their functional value and bus industry acceptability. A vehicle test was then conducted using the most favored features of the mock-up test. Results were analyzed separately for groups comprised of hearing, vision, and cognitive/communication impairments. Individuals with visual limitations, including some with guide dogs, were most favorable to more readable and better located seat identification, availability of a hints document, having a service/safety card for them to read, audible messages as appropriate, and some means to contact the driver. Most guide dog users were very favorable to the dog pad concept. Individuals with limitation of hearing or who are deaf were highly favorable to having text or ASL coverage on a video monitor, a service/safety card, and some general means of receiving text messages. For those with communication and those with intellectual impairments wanted to be able to review information at their own pace, whether presented visually, in text, or spoken. Members of this group welcomed being identified as special needs travelers, with the resulting benefits of driver attention to any special problem that might arise. Altogether, the features are represent a feasible cohort of elements which could be introduced to inter-city bus services in the near future.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Features: CD-ROM; Photos;
  • Pagination: 5p
  • Monograph Title: Transed 2001. Towards Safety, Independence and Security. 9th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01018861
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Feb 15 2006 9:02AM