AN INVESTIGATION INTO ASPECTS OF BUS DESIGN AND PASSENGER REQUIREMENTS

A two part investigation was undertaken by Leyland Vehicles human factors group under contract to the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. Phase 1 of the project covered the physical capabilities of passengers and their design preferences, using a static wooden mock up of a bus floor layout and 200 elderly and disabled subjects. From a questionnaire on problems with bus usage, the height of the first step was identified as the major inhibiting aspect in physically using buses and subsequent tests quantified the capabilities of elderly and disabled subjects for step climbing and handrail use. Other tests within phase 1 included the measurement of nine major body dimensions, various capability tests for reach, strength and step climbing, seat height, spacing, comfort and position preference, handrail diameter, shape and spacing and entrance configurations of steps and handrails. Phase 2 of the investigation covered five aspects: (1) doorway handholds: various designs based on the phase 1 work were developed and built into a mock up bus entrance. (2) in the seat: the definition of good or bad journeys, as described by a journey quality index, is related to the distribution of jerk levels. (3) going to and from the seat: using a modified Leyland National Bus, the comfort anility of standing passengers to remain upright was studied. (4) step height and retractable step: a retractable step provided a first step height of 185 mm and improved the ease of use by elderly passengers. (5) accidents: a study was made of accident data over a period of 12 months by 30 bus operators, covering about 30000 vehicles in the UK. /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00140139
• Corporate Authors:

  Taylor & Francis

  4 Park Square, Milton Park
  Abingdon,   United Kingdom  OX14 4RN
• Authors:
  • Brooks, B M
• Publication Date: 1979-2

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 175-188
• Serial:
  • Ergonomics
  • Volume: 22
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Taylor & Francis
  • ISSN: 0014-0139
  • EISSN: 1366-5847
  • Serial URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/terg20

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; Before and after studies; Buses; Comfort; Design; Ergonomics; Green interval (Traffic signal cycle); Height; Human factors; Measurement; Needs assessment; Passengers; Persons with disabilities; Seats; Traffic crashes; Traffic signals; Vehicle design
• Uncontrolled Terms: User needs
• Old TRIS Terms: Seat (Car)
• ITRD Terms: 1272: Bus; 9138: Comfort; 9011: Design (overall design); 2029: Ergonomics; 6489: Height; 2257: Human factor; 9048: Modification; 1746: Old people; 1388: Seat (veh)
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Society; Vehicles and Equipment; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00196957
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Research Association for Road Communications, W Gr
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 29 1979 12:00AM