Mobility for all
Getting on board
by Tom Rickert
Entire guide as a PDF file (1.43 MB)
Access to buses
Buses provide most of the public transit trips taken around the world. Access for wheelchair users are often provided using lifts or ramps. For example, Mexico City recently introduced locally made lift-equipped buses and trolley buses on major routes (see above left, noting also the retractable low first step in the front entrance). Some manufacturers specialize in making high-quality lifts, which are available for use on locally made buses around the world. Buses can also have a kneeler feature, which allows the driver to lower the front (or other) entrance to reduce the height of the first step above the surface of the bus stop.
Buses should be equipped with easily reached grab bars for boarding and alighting, and with as many vertical stanchions (poles) as possible for standing passengers. This especially helps passengers with back pain or mobility concerns. The photo in the middle left shows the "forest of stanchions" adapted for use in San Francisco.
The photo in the middle right shows reserved seating signs for elders and those with disabilities, used on buses in many countries.
It is helpful to paint handgrips and steps a bright color (yellow in many countries). Bus destination signs should be large with high-contrast letters to assist all passengers and especially those who are partially sighted. The vehicle number can be posted inside the bus using raised letters as well as braille dots, to assist those partially sighted or blind passengers who read braille to commend or criticize their bus service. (Photo at right).
Especially when initiating accessible bus service, transit agencies should consider making a single bus route totally accessible to wheelchair users rather than having every second or third bus be accessible. This is because it is important that service be reliable. Disabled persons may take a few months to become accustomed to accessible public transit and, as with all passengers, reliability is needed in order for passengers to gain confidence in the service and for usage to grow.
In many cases, orientation, often called "travel training", can be offered to assist new passengers who have never ridden a bus before. When possible, transit information should be available in alternative formats such as large print material for partially sighted passengers and braille or cassette tape for the blind. Travel information should be available for deaf, deafened, and hard-of-hearing passengers via tele-typewriter, fax, and electronic media, depending on local conditions.
In addition, transit agencies should enforce a policy that vehicles remain stopped while passengers board and alight and those disabled persons are seated before the vehicle is in motion. Drivers should call out key stops in order to assist all passengers and especially those who are blind or partially sighted.
