Advanced Accessibility Systems for Elderly and Disabled Travellers in Canada

Abstract

In Canada, as a result of the aging of the baby boom generation, the number of people 65 and older will nearly double by the year 2000. Since the rate of disability is highly correlated with aging, the number of Canadians with disabilities will likewise grow at a much faster rate than the general population. Of the disabled adult population, 62 percent (or 2 million) have difficulties using transportation services. The rapid developments in Intelligent VehicleHighway Systems (IVHS) in North America, or Advanced Transport Telematics Systems (AITS) in Europe, will be of great help to elderly and disabled travellers, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.It is strongly advocated in this paper that the requirements of these groups be integrated into the design of IVHS systems now, to avoid expensive and troublesome retrofits. The paper describes a conceptual framework for an advanced accessibility system developed by Canadian researchers to provide focus to this thrust, by linking it to existing IVHS modules, such as Advanced Traveller Information Systems (ATIS) and Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS), and to newly developed concepts like Advanced Mobile Support Systems (AMSS). An overview of Canadian activities in this area, with an emphasis on ergonomics evaluation, is presented.