Accessible Bus Design
bespoken recieved an email from a Product Design Engineering student looking for help with their 3rd year project. They are working on a project to re-design the interior of a bus to improve the experience for wheelchair users and had these questions.
1. What problems do wheelchair users face on public transport?
2. Do you think that there are adequate accessibility features on public transport right now?
3. In your opinion how could a wheelchair users journey be improved?
4. In my design I am really concentrating on inclusive design - do you think wheelchair users feel excluded? How do you think public transport could be changed to make it more inclusive?
Does anyone have any thoughts on these? If so it'd be great to hear from you in the comments section.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anne Walker on
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As an ex bus driver and now a wheelchair user this is a subject dear to my heart.
The biggest problems I found were the steepness of the ramp to get on depending on pavement height at bus stop. there is insufficient space to put the wheelchair in postion behind the inevitable pole that is always there and considering you have to be seated facing the back of the bus manouvring into this space is an art form especially for those with bigger chairs.
there is certainly not enough accessibility on public transport for wheelchair users, one of the biggest issues being we seem to take second place to prams where the person with the pram is usually only going a few stops or refusing to fold the pram to let a wheelchair on, I have experienced this from the driver and the wheelchair users perspective.
Bus companies should train drivers to help wheelchairs access buses, motorised wheelchairs should be allowed on all buses, and the simplicity of a folding arm pole next to the wheelchair space would help access into the space provided, although I do think this is a feature on newer buses.
Wheelchair users very definitately feel excluded, we want to travel without prior booking, and not to be made feel like social lepers by inconsiderate drivers because they have to get out the cab to lower the ramps.
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Permalink Reply by Ailsa June MacLean on
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When I first got my wheelchair I felt so pleased to be able to get out and about again and decided that I could utilise public transport. I have to say I was shocked to find so many bus drivers stating that their ramp was broken and therefore I could not get onto the bus. I learned later that they used this excuse because they did not want wheelchair users on their bus. On the ones I did manage to get on, the ramps were too steep were there was no pavement and where there was a pavement the bus drivers tended to leave to wide a space between the ramp and pavement rendering it unsafe to go onto the ramp. I felt that there was little room to maneuver my chair into place once I had got on the bus as the space for the wheelchair had fold up seats in it for use when there were no wheelchairs. A wheelchair taking up the room of 3 fold up seats really annoyed other bus users. I also found I had to fight over wheelchair space as mothers with prams and pushchairs were given first refusal of the space. I have been left sitting in the rain many times because of one or all of the mentioned problems. As for safety, well there was no seatbelt or clamps that could be put onto the chair to stop it slidding around when the bus was moving or when the bus stopped suddenly and the pole which was right in the middle of the space not only made it aImost impossible to even get my chair into the space but caused me to get several bruises as I knocked against it. I honestly think that buses should be kitted out like the large Euro taxis with clamps etc. Unfortunately I constantly met with negativity from drivers and from other bus users which put me off travelling by bus. Once again people just seem to think that disabled people are an imposition in their life and certainly did not want wheelchairs on the bus.
I have used the My Bus facility which is a bit better but only one wheelchair can go on it at a time and of course you are restricted to times for travelling. Again there is no clamp to secure the chair and I often find myself and my chair sliding across the bus floor. There is a bar that comes down at the side but it doesn't completely stop the chair sliding.
Sadly travelling on the bus is too stressful and miserable for wheelchair users trying to get around, so when the government (whom ever they may be) tell us that they are cutting our benefit and that we are quite capable of working they should ask themselves how disabled people are supposed to get to and from work!
I wish you all the best with your design and hope that the comments help you get a better perspective of how difficult it is for wheelchair users.
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I had a think last night regarding what I said about my chair slidding across the bus and wondered if a different flooring placed over the area designated for wheelchairs might be a solution or at least part solution with the addition of clamps.
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Permalink Reply by mary ballantyne on
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i have a brocken neck incomplet c5/6. and use a manul wheelchair.
I have used buses on and off for the last 16 years . let's put it this way now I would not get on a bus with out someone with me. bus too high. park too far from curb .don't wait long enufe for chair to get parket in place befor driving off. fight with pole. chair moves all over the place when bus is moving. I have come out of my chair when bus stopet suderlee.
drive pass if they see you at bus stop.
on the other hand some of the bus drives are very helpful. They have been giving a time table and must keep to it. Why not give someone who job it is too help wheelchairs . prams and the elderly. onto the bus
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Hi Mary,
I'm sorry to hear about your terrible experiences while travelling by bus.
I think your idea of having someone on the bus to help is a lovely idea but I imagine the bus companies would say that it would mean paying another salary per bus which would up the price of travel even further.
I wish they had not done away with the bus conducters who used to sell the customer their bus ticket and helped everyone on and off the bus who needed help. Sadly gone are the days!
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Permalink Reply by Emily Cairns on
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In contrast to what everyone else says, I have always found bus drivers and people on the bus to be extremely helpful. Maybe thats just a sign of the times changing.
Some points I'd like to add about this are that the small square button you have to press in order to get the bus to stop is very difficult to push. I believe that some of the newer buses have 'easy press' badges which are much better. I also quite like listening to music on the bus and so can't always hear the ringing sound the button makes with my headphones in. This makes me panic as I don't know if I pressed the button or if I'll miss my stop. So something visual would help as well.
When I go on the bus with my friends, they always find it annoying that there is nowhere for them to sit and talk to me. I've found that they get irritated looks if they sit in the seats designated for the elderly. There should be somewhere nearby for a carer or a friend to sit.
I think the idea about a different floor covering is good. I have an electric chair and I sometimes find that I move on the bus. Something anti-slip would be great.
Hope your project goes well.
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Absolutely spot on Emily. I totally forgot about the tiny stop button and the fact that there is no where for a friend or carer to sit close by to you. I'm also really glad that you don't have any problems with getting help from drivers and other bus users. I'm sure there are lots of other good areas in the UK where help is given without a problem. I think I am just unlucky with where I live. I do find that elderly people are very quick to offer assistance, possibly because they know how difficult it can be to get around. Before I got my wheelchair I used to drag myself around on crutches and will never forget the time I was trying to get onto the bus but the steepness of the step had me all but beaten. A lovely, little, elderly lady who looked like a gust of wind would blow her away, literally put both her hands on my bottom and gave me a hefty push. Up onto the step I soared as she profusely apologised for having to handle me in such a way! She was the hero of the hour but I was deeply saddened to see not one person give up their seat for her. She simply shrugged and said she was used to it. I think that is one of the things that is really wrong with our country, we put up with things too easily. Other countries see it as 'the British way' I think this is why we have to battle so hard to get things done and it is a great pity. Here's hoping that newer generations will change that.
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Permalink Reply by bespoken Team on
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Thank you everyone who has commented so far for flagging up some really valuable points about public transport. Please keep those comments coming.
Paul
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Drivers Require proper training and many buses are not fit for purpose.
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I often use the buses and hope I can answer a few of the queries:
Firstly if the ramp is too steep the driver should be able to 'lean' the bus towards the pavement (most modern buses have this facility) providing a lesser gradient.
Regarding driver assistance, first bus have definitely upped their game with regards to disability awareness and how to give assistance. Although people do site drivers attitudes as a major obstacle to travelling on buses this company has made giant strides in the last few years, other companies would do well to copy their example.
Although unavoidable if damaged on route but if it is been broken before the current journey bus should not leave the depot, it is not roadworthy to carry passengers. You should notify the company.
With regards to the problems with prams, there is only one space available on most buses to accommodate both and this has to be met with a first-come 1st serve policy. I think the pram or wheelchair issue is the biggest problem, if you have been refused access on one bus the driver should notify his base and inform the next bus that you are waiting and you then still can't get on the next, whether it's a wheelchair or pram, it should be up to the bus company to get you where you want to go by the quickest possible means, probably a taxi.
The bar at the side of you, although a bit of an obstacle getting into the space, is there to ensure you don't slide about. The breaks should be applied to stop you slipping forward.
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