Bus Accessibility
For people with physical disabilities
Public transportation is an indispensable part of urban mobility, but it often lacks accessibility for people with physical disabilities. This project was aimed at exploring and understanding the challenges faced by individuals with physical disabilities when using Tamil Nadu's public bus transport. I gathered insights through various research methods such as desk research, observational field work, and interviews to inform the design of an accessible public bus transport system.
Timeline
19 Sep - 22 Sep, 2022
My Role
Research
Research Goals
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Study the experiences of individuals with physical disabilities on public buses.
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Assess the gap between user expectations and experiences.
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Identify accessible transportation options for people with physical disabilities.
Insights from Desk Research
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Desk research on ‘Chennai’s public bus transport’ showed that disabled individuals are unable to commute freely and access opportunities. The government has been slow in implementing accessibility standards mandated by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
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The lack of accessibility in Chennai's buses has resulted in terrible experiences for people with disabilities, including accidents and injuries, insensitivity from drivers, conductors, and co-passengers.
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Some proposed solutions for accessible buses, like extremely high-floor buses with hydraulic lifts, have proven unsafe. Lack of ramps and high steps make boarding difficult for people with physical disabilities.
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They end up commuting by spending a lot of money on private transport as public bus facilities remain out of reach.
Observational Field Work
1) To understand the current public bus system,
I made observations at two neighbourhood bus stops. This helped me understand the possible pain points and challenges users may face.
2) To understand transport that is accessible for people with disabilities,
I observed the vans at a vocational training centre for people with physical disabilities.
Observations made at the Bus Stops
I made observations at 2 major bus stops of T. Nagar, Chennai: Pondy bazaar, & Panagal park bus stop. At the bus stops, I made observations while considering the possible journey of a user with a physical disability. It helped me identify things that I had never considered as problems while commuting by bus.
1) Inaccessible footpath entry
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Absence of curb cuts makes the footpaths inaccessible to individuals using wheelchairs, leg braces, or crutches.
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Although I found curb cuts at the entrance of an apartment and a restaurant, reaching them requires navigating through a main road with heavy traffic, causing additional challenges for people with mobility needs.
2) Obstacles on Footpath
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Footpaths are equipped with several bollards to prevent bikes from entering. However, this also makes the path inaccessible to wheelchair users.
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Tactile tiles with dots are placed around trees to warn individuals with visual impairments about potential hazards. This arrangement leaves no path for wheelchair users.
3) Inaccessible bus entry
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There is no provision for a wheelchair to enter, as shown in the picture of a woman climbing the high steps.
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Buses stop only briefly, always in a hurry to start moving as soon as the last person enters.
Observations made at the Vocational Centre
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The minivan is specially designed for wheelchair users and has a capacity of two seats, apart from the driver's seat.
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The remaining space is dedicated to accommodating wheelchairs.
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It is marked with a 'wheelchair symbol' for clear identification.
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To facilitate easy boarding and exiting, the van features a lift at the back.
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It has two doors on each side at the front, with a sliding door on the right and a separate door for wheelchair users at the back.
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The lift has barriers at the back while its on air to prevent the wheelchair from sliding down. These lower down when the lift reaches the ground.
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A remote is used to control the lift.
Insights from User Interviews
I conducted telephonic semi-structured interviews with people with physical disabilities and caretakers/special educators to gather firsthand insights.
Inaccessible Footpaths
Lack of curb cuts and obstacles on footpaths hinder wheelchair users' access to bus stops, forcing them to navigate on busy roads.
“I had to move my wheelchair on the road and it suddenly got stuck in a pothole filled with water. I was about to fall.”
Inaccessible Buses
Buses lack ramps or lifts for easy wheelchair entry, making wheelchair users completely dependent on others for travel.
“ He needs assistance from others for climbing the bus steps”
Limited Boarding Time
Short stopping time of buses makes it challenging for users to board and alight without adequate assistance.
“Bus drivers do not agree to stop for longer to give him sufficient time to get off from the bus.”
High Cost of Transportation
Public transportation costs are unaffordable for many people with disabilities, limiting their mobility.
“Job reservation for people with disabilities is only 4%. Bus charges are too expensive for people in the lower income group.”
Define
Persona & User Journey Map
Goal: Reach his office using a public bus.
Ideate
Activity 1: Crazy 8's
I did a crazy 8's activity to quickly come up with diverse ideas. The constrained time frame helped in coming up with spontaneous solutions.
Activity 2: How Might I?
Generating Questions:
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Amp up the good: how might I make it easy to enter the footpath?
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Remove the bad: how might I remove all the obstacles on Vikram’s path?
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Explore the opposite: How Might I make the obstacles helpful to Vikram?
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Question the assumption: How Might I prevent vehicles from entering without the bollards?
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Create an analogy from need or context: How might I create a barrier that prevents vehicles but lets wheelchairs pass through?
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Go after adjectives: How might I make the obstacles fun instead of frustrating?
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ID unexpected resources: How Might I assign someone to guide and assist people at every bus stop?
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How Might I make the bollard movable? How Might I create a ramp wherever it is required?
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Break POV into pieces: How might I create safe entry points to the platform for users with disability?
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How might I remove obstacles from the path? How might I prevent vehicles from entering the footpath?
How Might I make it easy to enter the footpath?
Future Scope
Due to the limited project timeline, there is a lot to be explored yet. A second round of more extensive research is required to gain a better understanding of various topics:
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Understanding existing government regulations and initiatives to provide accessibility in buses.
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Analysing the existing solutions and factors that influence the government in facilitating accessibility.
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Viability of ideas by understanding current technologies and systems
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Primary research by travelling in existing buses that are accessible.
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Observing and interviewing more users travelling in these buses.
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Creating additional personas through interviews to ensure a comprehensive representation of the primary users, thereby improving accessibility.
Conclusion
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These findings emphasize the need for a more inclusive and accessible public bus transport system to empower individuals with disabilities to travel independently and with dignity.
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Additionally, public awareness campaigns and sensitization programs for drivers, conductors, and co-passengers can foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with physical disabilities.
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This experience opened my eyes to how often we overlook the needs of those with different abilities in our daily routines. By neglecting their requirements, we unintentionally limit their opportunities and perpetuate feelings of exclusion in society. Accessibility is essential and should be considered while designing any product or service.