According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, “3.6 million Americans with travel-limiting disabilities do not leave their homes because they are disabled or housebound.” While public transit vehicles must be accessible, many individuals are prevented from using transportation due to other accessibility barriers. We define accessible transportation as transportation that everyone can access and use.
When you think of barriers in transportation, you might immediately think of examples like the lack of a lift-equipped vehicle or hard-to-read signage. However, obstacles like a lack of paratransit after 5 p.m. or on weekends, high cost of travel, or inaccessible information about transit systems can also prevent communities or individuals from using transportation services. First-mile/last-mile barriers — which refer to barriers in a trip's first mile and last mile, such as poorly maintained/designed sidewalks, distance from a bus stop, safety concerns like lighting, lack of benches at bus stops — also contribute to inaccessible transportation.
Definitions
According to the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, “accessible means a person with a disability is afforded the opportunity to acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as a person without a disability in an equally effective and equally integrated manner, with substantially equivalent ease of use.”
“Assistive technology (AT) is any item, device, or piece of equipment used to maintain or improve the functionality of people with disabilities, allowing them to be more independent in education, employment, recreation, and daily living activities” (AT3 Center). Examples of transportation AT include lift-equipped vans, tie-down systems for wheelchairs, or hand controls for driving without pedals.
The DEI Glossary from the University of Washington defines inclusion as “the act of creating an environment in which any individual or group will be welcomed, respected, supported and valued as a fully participating member.” Transit Planning 4 All defines inclusion in transportation planning as “the active and meaningful involvement of people with disabilities and older adults in transit planning and operations.”
“Universal design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability.” (Centre for Excellence in Universal Design)
Resources
Helping Users Navigate Your Agency’s Website
Learn how to optimize web navigation on your transit website.
7 Principles for Universal Design
These seven principles, initially developed in 1997, can be used as a starting point in evaluating existing designs and developing new ones. Find more Universal Design resources at the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design from the National Disability Authority (Ireland).
Aging and Disability Transportation Overview
Learn about the unique issues faced by older adults and people with disabilities and available transportation options from the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center.
Types of Assistive Technology
Explore different types of AT on the AT3 Center’s website.
More than One in Five Adults with Limited Public Transit Access Forgo Health Care Because of Transportation Barriers
“Adults with a disability (17%) were more than three times as likely to report skipping care due to transportation concerns.” Read more at the link above.