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Identified difficulties in bus boarding and disembarking: Causes and Solutions

Identified difficulties in bus boarding and disembarking: Causes and Solutions. Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo. June 6 th , 2012. Overview.

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Identified difficulties in bus boarding and disembarking: Causes and Solutions

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  1. Identified difficulties in bus boarding and disembarking: Causes and Solutions Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access School of Architecture and Planning, University at Buffalo June 6th, 2012

  2. Overview This presentation summarizes the problems we identified through our research and our ideas for improvements to bus design that could solve the problems. There are four categories of problems identified: Ramp, Fare Payment, Navigation in Bus, and Seating. Each problem is coded based on which group of people encountered that particular problem. Each solution is coded based on the level of effort required for implementing the solution in the case of bus features, or, other system changes that would be required to implement the solution.

  3. Key to Codes Recommended Improvement Codes 2 = Development of new product or improved product required 3 = Major R&D needed 4 = Bus stop related 5 = Service or business practice change 1 = Easy to accomplish (Implementation Goal) User Type Codes VI = Visually Impaired MWC = Manual Wheelchair PWC = Power Wheelchair WA= Walker Assisted ? S = Scooter

  4. Ramp (1/2) Issue Walking / rolling off the ramp during boarding and disembarking • Ramp curb height ineffective/insufficient (VI, MWC, PWC, S) • Lack of auditory cues (VI) Recommended Improvements • 1 Beacon on bus to assist people with visual impairments • in identifying ramp position • 3 Robotic/automatic docking to ensure consistent ramp • position • 4 Tactile locator at bus-stops to identify loading area

  5. Ramp (2/2) Issue Instability on ramps • Physical strength and motor control required to maintain balance (MWC, WA) Recommended Improvements • 1 Improved handrail configuration to provide manual • wheelchair users better grip • 3 Fold out handrails to provide support feature for entire • ramp’s length • 4 Platform boarding • 3 Reduce ramp slope by using advanced folding • structure: draw-bridge door, telescopic or roll-out • ramps

  6. Fare Payment (1/5) Issue Handling fare-card / money • Usually engages dominant hand (All individuals) • Requires good motor control of hand (All individuals) Recommended Improvements • 5 Fare payment completed at bus stop • 5 Free smartcards for people with vision disabilities • 5 RFID embedded in fare card – smart card • 3 Facial recognition to register smart payment • 5 Free fares for people with severe disabilities

  7. Fare Payment (2/5) Issue Locating the farebox • Lack of tactile guide leading to farebox(VI) Recommended Improvements • 1 Rail (with tactile feedback) guiding to the fare-box • Card-reader embedded in the hand-rail • RFID embedded in fare card – smart card

  8. Fare Payment (2/5) Issue Completing the actual fare payment • Paying with a cardor money Recommended Improvements • 2 RFID embedded in fare card – smart card • 2 Card-reader embedded in the hand-rail

  9. Fare Payment (3/5) Issue Roll-back during payment on 1:6 sloped ramp • Proximity of fare-box to the ramp (MWC) Recommended Improvements • 1 Position fare-box behind the driver (over the wheel-well) • 3 Use of dash-board mounted fare-box

  10. Fare Payment (4/5) Issue Fare payment slot out of comfortable reach zone • lack of knee and toe clearance which limits a forward approach • Require extending if too high for some seated individuals (MWC, PWC, S) • Require trunk twisting since located at the turn (MWC, PWC, S) • visual feedback and screen location is outside the line of sight (MWC, PWC, S) Recommended Improvements 1 Fare payment option on both sides 2 Card-reader embedded in the hand-rail 2 Prominent feedback on fare payment (e.g. fare-box lights up/change color)

  11. Fare Payment (5/5) Issue Targeted contact required for successful payment • Sensor requires targeted contact (VI, MWC, PWC, S) Recommended Improvements 1 Card proximity sensor on the fare-box / door 2 Prominent feedback on fare payment (e.g. fare-box lights up/change color)

  12. Navigation within bus (1/7) Issue For rear entrance: identifying intersection of aisle and ramp • No feedback on reaching the aisle-ramp juncture (VI) Recommended Improvements • 1 Contrast colored / textured aisle to identify ramp-aisle • juncture 2 Continuous handrail from doorway to seats with fused stanchions

  13. Navigation within bus (2/7) Issue Bumping into the inner wheel-well edge • Sharp turn (MWC, PWC, S) Recommended Improvements • 1 Rounding off the wheel-well at the turn

  14. Navigation within bus (3/7) Issue Space while moving in the bus (roll over people’s feet) • Insufficient aisle width(WA, MWC, PWC, S) Recommended Improvements 5 Training for wheeled mobility users

  15. Navigation within bus (4/7) Issue • Fitting walking aids in the aisle with forward facing seat • Insufficient aisle width(WA, MWC, PWC, S) Recommended Improvements 5Training and advice on types of walking aids

  16. Navigation within bus (5/7) Issue Locating / hitting stanchions and hand holds • No environmental cue (VI) Recommended Improvements • 3 Environmental assistance in conjunction with smart • device on passengers (light, sound, haptic feedback) • 5 Training on specific bus designs

  17. Navigation within bus (6/7) Issue Finding vacant seat • No environmental cues except fellow passengers(VI) Recommended Improvements • 2Pressure sensor embedded in the seat activates “occupied” signal • 2 Smartphone activated beacon to identify vacant seats • 2 Handrail used to signal presence of empty seat (vibration, air pressure through perforation, texture change, width change) • 2 Auditory cue from floor sensors in front of empty seat (WEB LINK) • 2 Focused audio signaling vacant seats (WEB LINK)

  18. Navigation within bus (7/7) Issue Turning WC/scooter within the bus • Space insufficient (especially in high conditions) (MWC, PWC, S) Recommended Improvements 2 Fold-down seats (instead of fold-up) to provide more free floor area 3 Relocate door away from wheel wells 3 Increase door width 3 Door hinges down to become ramp

  19. Seating (1/6) Issue Inadequate leg room (forward facing seats) • Seats spacing inadequate (WA, VI) Recommended Improvements 5 additional space for larger individuals, also for the elderly and those with mobility problems which affects sitting and rising

  20. Seating (2/6) Issue Getting up from the seat (specially side facing) • No hand supports (WA) Recommended Improvements • 2 Fold-down arm-rest on priority seats

  21. Seating (3/6) Issue Storing the device • Insufficient space in the seating area (have to encroach aisle space) (WA) Recommended Improvements 1 Storage space between seat and wheelchair tie down for side facing seats 1Increase legroom between transverse seats 2 Velcro tie down on side of seat to secure walkers 5 Storing racks for walkers over wheel-wells

  22. Seating (4/6) Issue Finding lever to lift the seat • Lack of environmental cues pointing to it (MWC, PWC, S) Recommended Improvements • 1 Markings (on seat / floor) directing to seat lever

  23. Seating (5/6) Issue Effort required to operate the lever • limited range of motion / strength requirement (MWC, PWC, S) Recommended Improvements • 1Change lever design for easy grip • 1Change direction of force required to operate lever (pull • up seat = pull up handle to unlock)

  24. Seating (6/6) Issue Bumping into securement and seats • No feedback on wheelchair location in relation to securement (MWC, PWC, S) Recommended Improvements • 1 Environmental cues to guide device location, e.g. • markings on floor

  25. Center for Inclusive Design & Environmental Access School of Architecture & Planning State University of New York at Buffalo 378 Hayes Hall | 3435 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214 – 3087 Funded by: The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) through the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Accessible Public Transportation (RERC-APT) and the United States Access Board

  26. Center for Inclusive Design & Environmental Access School of Architecture & Planning State University of New York at Buffalo 378 Hayes Hall | 3435 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214 – 3087 +1 (716) 829.5902 +1 (716) 829.3861 ap-idea@buffalo.edu http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea http://www.udeworld.com tel: fax: email: web: web:

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