ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND THE TREND TO UNIVERSAL DESIGN

Accessible transportation services started in Europe and North America in the early 1970s as separate specialized systems for less able people. Developments in Europe show a steady trend from separate specialized provision towards improving mainstream services so that they can be used by less able people. Public transportation designed to serve people with as wide a range of capability as possible is easier and safer for the whole population. In some cases, such as Service Routes in Sweden, the move to more universal provision has reduced demand for specialized services and total expenditure on transportation. This paper considers whether improvements to public transport services are better achieved by legislation or by technical advice and persuasion. Legislation applies to all vehicles or all services, but has to compromise to require only features that can readily be achieved. By contrast, advisory specifications can require the features that are really needed to help less able people, regardless of how difficult they are to achieve. However, these features may either not be applied at all or only applied in part. But by stating what is required, they may ultimately achieve more than lenient mandatory requirements. Extensive knowledge of the ergonomic requirements of travellers with different types of impairment must be applied if the legislation or advice is to achieve its purpose.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0646361546
• Corporate Authors:

  Indomed Proprietary Limited

  144 Norwood Street
  Leaderville, Western Australia  Australia  6007
• Authors:
  • Mitchell, CGB
  • Smith, T
• Conference:
  • 8th International Conference on Transport and Mobility for Elderly and Disabled People
  • Location: Perth , Australia
  • Date: 1998-9-0 to 1998-9-0
• Publication Date: 1998

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 283-291
• Monograph Title: SETTING THE PACE. 8TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TRANSPORT AND MOBILITY FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED PEOPLE, PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, SEPTEMBER 1998. 2 VOLS

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Administration; Conferences; Design; Legislation; Persons with disabilities; Public transit
• Identifier Terms: Transed
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Design; Highways; Law; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00944809
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0-646-36154-6
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 7 2003 12:00AM