The orientation and mobility of visual impaired people in bus and subway networks in Brazil

Carolina Stolf Silveira,Marta Dischinger

doi:10.1590/s1678-86212019000100301

Carolina Stolf Silveira, Marta Dischinger

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1678-86212019000100301

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Abstract

Abstract Spatial orientation depends both on the information available in the surrounding’s environment and on the individual's ability to perceive and deal with this information. To be fully understand by its users as a transport network and, to independently move from one place to another, the urban public transport service must be able to provide accessible information where users can easily discover and reach different, and to socially engage in local activities. In Brazil, the information disposable to users is scarce and sometimes nonexistent in the urban public transport (PT), especially regarding the supply of information to everyone. This paper presents some doctoral research’s results applied in Brazil and discuss blind users’ orientation and mobility in urban public transport network. The investigation involved around two hundred blind and partially impaired users from many Brazilian regions where surveys were conducted; additionally, interviews with a focus group and the "Accompanied Walks” method. The results of the latter are here presented, showing environmental barriers and users needs.

Highlights

Since 2015 the author, a Ph.D. student of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, has been researching and addressing the state-of-the-art knowledge on the following topics:(a) the user’s perception and their spatial orientation in public transport (PT) networks;(b) the available information systems in different PT networks; and (c) the orientation techniques and ‘assistive technologies’, and its literature.The research involved more than two hundred blind and partially sighted people from many cities across Brazil
Digital surveys were applied containing 26 questions about the use of tactile floors which 70 persons answered; 53 testimonials about the idealized wayfinding system for PT users were collected; discuss with 78 blind and low vison people were made through a focus group called "Accessibility and Transport" which participants exchange good and bad experiences using PT, and their ideal scenario; and, lastly, 05 applications of the “Accompanied Walk” method (DISCHINGER, 2000) were administrated
This article is focused on present the main results of the “Accompanied Walks”, which are obtained from the blind participants' perceptions about the public transport system of three Brazilian cities: Joinville, São Paulo, and Florianópolis

Summary

Introduction

Since 2015 the author, a Ph.D. student of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, has been researching and addressing the state-of-the-art knowledge on the following topics:. Information about the public transport network can be provided through visual maps, audible warnings, vehicle colour, and bulletin boards at bus stops, on buses, and at stations, which will be only fully read by the so-called ‘standard user’ – those who are literate and can use all their perceptive senses, ignoring the whole range of travellers with some disability. Dischinger (2000) debates the significance of the perceptive processes in the cognition of urban spaces for the visually impaired, and concluded that studies on the evaluation of spatial accessibility for this group should include studies on permanent and dynamic references related to identification, exploration, and independently decision-making, in addition to traditional attributes analysis. Considering all that challenges faced by visually impaired people, this author’s doctoral research was focused in explore orientation strategies for this particular group while using public transport networks, encompassing its peculiarities and urban references to supports for the creation and development of accessible information system.

Methodology

Conclusions

Findings

E M B vehicle movement