[sustran] Re: Brief intro to Access for Persons with Disabil

[Merle Van Horne]

Here's a couple of further thoughts on transit accessibility for 
often-neglected/overlooked population segments:

--The illiterate--still a substantial population segment in many developing 
countries.  In the Mexico City subway system, each station has a distinctive, 
attractive logo which is related to the station name.  Generous use of these 
logos in and around the station environment provides orientation to illiterates 
and others.

--The frail and infirm--not wheelchair-bound but slow and limited in walking.  
For many reasons it is undesirable to force these people into wheelchairs before
it is clearly necessary.  Above all, the frail and infirm need benches, lots of 
them and well-placed.  Benches should be available wherever people must 
wait--and also where they need to rest briefly after climbing or after walking 
more than 100 meters or so.  Few transit systems meet this basic requirement.

Merle Van Horne
National Park Service, USA



______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: [sustran] Brief intro to Access for Persons with Disabilitie
Author:  SUSTRAN Resource Centre <sustran at po.jaring.my> at NP--INTERNET
Date:    12/22/98 11:53 AM


This text is from a pamphlet by a USA-based group, Access Exchange 
International, which focuses on this issue in developing countries. It was 
passed to us by Naziaty Yaacob who attended the TRANSED conference in perth 
recently.  I hope it may be useful to some of you.   Access Exchange 
International has also published a useful 26-page well-illustrated booklet on 
the issue, "Mobility for All: Accessible Transportation Around the World". See 
the end of this message for their contact details. 
     
     
Access for Persons with Disabilities to Public Transit: Practical steps for Less
Wealthy Countries
     
     
Based on their successful use in different countries, here are some "first 
steps" towards the development of accessible transportation for persons with 
disabilities in less wealthy countries. Some of these ideas are virtually 
without cost, others are very low-cost, while some are moderate cost. Not all 
are relevant in any given situation, but they represent "first steps" on the 
road to accessible transportation.
     
     
No-cost or very low-cost
     
1. Access to the built environment: Advocate that all new construction of 
buildings and transit stations be accessible to disabled persons (curb ramps, 
ramps to entrances, properly designed bathrooms, etc.). If it is possible to 
obtain legislation requiring such access, print and distribute recommendations, 
provide directories of facilities that are in compliance and encourage people to
patronise them, etc.
     
2. Provide public transit information in accessible formats: braille, cassette 
tape, and large print are examples.
     
3. Provide low-cost aides to assist semi-ambulatory passengers to use transit 
vehicles: examples include more vertical stanchions, well located handles on 
doors of vehicles, or steps or rails painted in "safety yellow". Note that these
improvements would be welcome by all passengers!
     
4. If needed, provide larger print destination signs in buses to assist 
passengers with low- vision. Again, all passengers would benefit.
     
5. Train bus drivers to call out stops for blind passengers. If this is 
impractical on crowded buses, it may be more practical at off-peak hours.
     
6. Invite members of the disability community--and especially blind persons--to 
familiarize themselves with a bus in non-revenue service, to assist in boarding 
and riding on the vehicle when it is crowded.
     
7. Provide "travel tips" to the disabled community, concerning the times and 
places where vehicles may be less crowded.
     
     
Moderate cost
     
8. For door-to-door services, consider modifying taxis with ramps for use by 
wheelchair riders.
     
9. When obtaining new or replacement vehicles, consider low-floored models which
are now used more and more in Western Europe and Canada. In all events, make 
sure replacement buses have wide enough doors to admit passengers with mobility 
aids such as walkers.
     
10. Consider ramped raised platforms at key stops to board buses and trams. A 
lightweight bridge can be attached to the platform, or it may be stored on board
the vehicle (as is done in Curitiba, Brazil, and in San Francisco and 
Sacramento, California in the USA). The driver then positions the bridge to span
the gap between the raised platform and the floor of the transit vehicle.
     
11. Consider the installation of ramps or relatively low-cost wheelchair lifts 
on locally manufactured buses. Companies in the USA and elsewhere offer a wide 
range of products.
     
12. Perhaps side-cars or trailers can be attached to modified motorbikes or 
motorcycles, designed for use by a passenger riding a wheelchair. In some 
countries, this may be an alternative when lift- or ramp-equipped vans are not 
available. Non-motorized vehicles can also be modified to carry passengers with 
disabilities.
     
13. Consider a subsystem of buses dedicated just for use by persons with 
disabilities and elders. This is not ideal, but in extremely crowded transit 
systems it may be one answer to providing a transit option during peak hours.
     
14. Consider some variation of the "service route" concept developed in Sweden 
and now used in some cities in the USA and elsewhere. This system uses smaller 
accessible vehicles which serve all passengers on routes of special interest to 
elders and persons with disabilities.
     
15 Start with small pilot projects and learn from them. For example, make two 
key sites on one bus line accessible with raised platforms. In some cities, two 
Metro stations (e.g., at the ends of a line) could be made accessible by ramp or
elevator. Start a small accessible van feeder service to the bus stops or Metro 
stations. Remember to check with disability groups to learn what they really 
need! 
     
Accessible transportation is built over many years. Small projects capture the 
attention of the public, provide credit for transit agencies, and set the stage 
for public support for funding of larger projects in the future. Often such 
public support also helps transit agencies to develop a better community base 
for other funding as well.
     
     
For further information, contact:  
     
Access Exchange International, 112  San Pablo Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127, 
USA. 
Telephone:  +1 415  661  6355, Fax: +1  415 661  1543, E-mail: 
globalride-sf at worldnet.att.net
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Message-ID: <01BE2DA1.B5C4A2E0 at j48.brf72.jaring.my>
From: SUSTRAN Resource Centre <sustran at po.jaring.my>
To: "aasust_discuss (E-mail)" <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>
Cc: "Anthony S Thanasayan (E-mail)" <ant at pc.jaring.my>,
        "Khoo Salma Nasution (E-mail)" <lubisksn at tm.net.my>,
        "San Yuenwah (E-mail)" <san.unescap at un.org>,
        "'Naziaty Yaacob'" <naziaty at alambina.um.edu.my>,
        "'globalride-sf at worldnet.att.net'" <globalride-sf at worldnet.att.net>
Subject: [sustran] Brief intro to Access for Persons with Disabilities to Public
Transit
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1998 11:53:29 +0800
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