Disabled Travelers Research Articles

IS AVIATION AN ENABLER OR BARRIER FOR DISABLED PASSENGERS? A REVIEW OF DISABILITY RIGHTS AND POLICY FOR AIRLINE PASSENGERS IN THE EU AND UK


 
 
 Since the EU introduced Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006 to support access and reduce barriers for People with Disabilities (PwD). Member States of the EU, and their respective Departments of Transport, have had the responsibility to ensure the Regulation is adopted, complied with, and evidenced at airports. This paper assesses to what extent the aviation sector in the EU, particularly the UK, is carrying out its legal obligations and whether a new ethos towards disabled travellers has been created because of regulations both at EU and national level since 2006. The conclusion drawn from legislation, the courts, and changes to airport infrastructure, show that whilst improvements have been made to enable access and reduce barriers for PwD, it will take a number of years and a greater desire from the sector to ensure equality for disabled passengers.
 
 

Mobility support for disadvantaged and disabled travelers during pandemic or similar situations

The COVID-19 lockdown has reduced public transportation service to the disadvantaged and disabled people who urgently need adequate mobility to obtain essential suppliers. This paper aims to improve the life quality of people with disabilities and elderly people by addressing social exclusion, accessibility, and mobility issues. Demand responsive transport services are frequently offered in the context of door-to-door transportation of the elderly and persons with disabilities. We study and compare two frameworks. We apply both Sample average approximation (SAA) and Rolling Horizon (RH) to optimize a car sharing system for the total cost, including initiation cost and operation cost after fleet size is determined. The model is implemented with given geographic conditions and other local information to be tailored for specific applications for local communities. Given that no historical data is available, random sample data is generated to simulate expected demands. We consider three types of probability distributions for daily demand data, and the results generated using three different distributions are being examined and compared. The research shows that the demand data following a normal distribution results in the minimum total cost. Additionally, we study the impact of several factors on total cost, including demand fulfillment rates and operation hours. Our results suggest that the impact of fulfillment rate on fleet size is exponential after a threshold under all three types of daily demand data, and extended operation hours can significantly reduce the total cost. Finally, the paper provides applicable frameworks for city planners, NPOs, and policymakers to better allocate limited resources to implement the carsharing system when little to no historical travel information is available for low-density population areas. It is anticipated that the outcome from this research would benefit disadvantaged and disabled travelers during COVID-19 or similar difficult situations in the future.

장애인관광 제약요인과 선호 관광유형에 대한 연구

장애인관광 제약요인과 선호 관광유형에 대한 연구

A Methodology on Quantifying Spatial-Temporal Disparities in Travel Behavior of Mobility-Impaired Travelers with Non-Disabled Travelers: Case Studies of London and New York

Background Physically-impaired citizens are, arguably, the most vulnerable group of the society and, unfortunately, often the least favored one. Transportation and mobility are key players in determining the qualities of life such that transport disadvantaged urban forms are associated with the risk of social exclusions of the citizens. For physically-impaired individuals, the burden caused by an inaccessible transportation system is more severe due to the coupled effects of limited mobility due to impaired personal health and lack of good mobility service. Providing a good and accessible transportation service requires (1) a better understanding of travel behavior of the target population, (2) quantifying mobility disparities between the patterns of the target population and others, and (3) detecting the operational gap. Methods We developed a methodology to compare the mobility behavior in two dimension of time and space. The steps are: Generation of Scheme Characteristic Vectors (SCV) to compare the patterns in the dimension of space. These vectors are generated based on some set of geometric and shape formatting operations; Generation of Temporal Activity Strings (TAS) to compare the patterns in the dimension of time; Clustering SCV and TAS in the dimensions of time and space using a two stage clustering method: affinity propagation and k-means clustering; Finding the K-nearest neighbors (KNN) based on the demographic attributes to measure the dissimilarity in the observed mobility behavior of physically disabled travelers to others who have similar demographic attributes. This step addressed the question of ‘what would be the spatial-temporal pattern of a disabled person if she/he was not disabled?’ Results We applied the methodology to London and NYC. A total of seven temporal clusters for NYC and 10 temporal clusters for London emerged from the data. For spatial analysis, 10 spatial patterns for NYC and 13 patterns for London were formed. In both regions, a comparison of the time-use behavior and spatial mobility shows significant disparities in time-use patterns of disabled people. A lower percentage of disabled travelers spend their time out of home, or make short trips. In spatial pattern comparison, the difference between mobility patterns in NYC is more significant than in London. Conclusions We developed innovative techniques to quantify the gap between the mobility behavior of disabled people and others. The results can be used in any urban planning decision making, where multiple factors of economic considerations and equity need to be taken into account.

Navigating Multi-Modal Public Transport Systems: Real Time Perceptions of Processual Usability Using Video Methodology

Collection of data of customer processes are difficult, due to its dynamic and complex nature. This study reports on some initial findings using a video-based methodology in collecting naturally occurring visual data of travellers using different modes of transport (bus, tram, train, boat, subway) in Stockholm City. The study involves able-bodied and disabled travellers (customers) and identifies environmental and processual factors that are critical for the passengers handling multimodal door-to-door trips.

Injuries in Special Transportation Services for Elderly and Disabled—A Multi-Methodology Approach to Estimate Incidence and Societal Costs

Objective. Previous research has shown that elderly and disabled travelers using Special Transportation Services (STS) are injured without being involved in a vehicle crash. In order to estimate the true costs for these vehicle-related injuries, the focus needs to be adjusted towards an incident/traveler-oriented perspective. The aim of the project was thus to utilize such a perspective, in order to make a best estimation of the true costs for injury incidents, related to STS in Sweden. Methods. In order to address the chosen perspective, a mixed-method approach was used, involving quantitative as well as qualitative research methods applied on four different sets of data, the hospital-based material (n = 32), two sets of STS material (n = 127), and interview-based material (n = 1,000). Results. The results showed that the injury incidence rate in STS is considerable, i.e., 3.2 per 100,000 trips (ranging from 1.5–1.9 in STS taxis and 3.6–5.6 in STS special vehicles). However, this high incidence rate is not due to road traffic crashes, but to non-collision injury incidents involving elderly and frail passengers, easily sustaining injuries from minor to moderate external violence. Typically, this violence is affecting an older female STS user, while entering and exiting the vehicle. The true costs were estimated to be $35 million per annum or $2.6 per trip. Conclusion. Future injury prevention measures should thus focus on safety in entering and exiting procedures.

Elderly and Disabled Travelers: Intelligent Transport Systems Designed for the 3rd Millennium

The TELematic Standards and Coordination of Advanced Transport Telematics systems in relation to elderly and disabled travelers (TELSCAN) project in the Transport Sector of the Telematics Applications Programme of the European Union has developed a Handbook of Design Guidelines (Nicolle & Burnett, 1999) to support designers of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to include the needs of people who are elderly or disabled. This article describes the methods of the Handbook's development, including an overview of the methodology for capturing the requirements of elderly and disabled travelers, a survey of existing guidelines, and empirical results and lessons learned from simulator testing. The authors conclude that although general guidelines are necessary, the most specific and useful guidelines emerge only when carefully chosen research questions can be investigated. The development of such guidelines should help us come closer to achieving usability of ITS not only for elderly and disabled people, but for everybody as we enter the 3rd millennium.

Reply to Comments on "Elderly and Disabled Travelers: Intelligent Transport Systems Designed for the 3rd Millennium"

(1999). Reply to Comments on 'Elderly and Disabled Travelers: Intelligent Transport Systems Designed for the 3rd Millennium' Transportation Human Factors: Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 141-145.

Commentary on "Elderly and Disabled Travelers: Intelligent Transport Systems Designed for the 3rd Millennium"

Commentary on "Elderly and Disabled Travelers: Intelligent Transport Systems Designed for the 3rd Millennium"

Urban Travel, Intelligent Transportation Systems, and the Safety of Elderly and Disabled Travelers

The authors report that in almost all developed countries, there is a growing elderly population with a concomitant increase in the number of elderly and disabled drivers. They describe the ways that Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and equipment have the potential to compensate for the effects of aging and impairment and improve the mobility, security, and safety of elderly and disabled travelers (including pedestrians and drivers).

Discrete Choice Elasticities for Elderly and Disabled Travelers Between Fixed-Route Transit and Paratransit

In the current practice of mode-choice modeling, models typically focus on the more traditional choices, such as those between automobile, transit, and nonmotorized transportation. For most travelers these are, indeed, the most relevant modes. However, for some segments of the population, particularly the elderly, the choice is more limited. This study investigates the factors that affect the elderly and disabled travelers’ choice between public transit and paratransit. Data collected from the public transit service, Sacramento Regional Transit, and the paratransit service, Paratransit, Inc., in Sacramento, California, were used to develop a mode-choice model and to calculate elasticities of significant factors. Age was found to have an elastic effect, whereas the difference in fare had an inelastic effect.

Development of transportable wheelchair design criteria using computer crash simulation.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has led to an increase in disabled travelers, many of whom are unable to transfer to a vehicle seat and are required to use their wheelchair to fulfill this function. ANSI/RESNA is currently developing a transportable wheelchair standard which will identify design requirements and testing methods for wheelchairs suitable for transport. Wheelchair manufacturers should begin to modify their existing design criteria established for a normal mobility function to design criteria appropriate for a transportation function which may subject the wheelchair to large dynamic crash forces. A thorough understanding of the crash environment and its effect on the wheelchair is necessary to insure the safety of the wheelchair user. To assist manufacturers in the design effort, this study uses mathematical crash simulations to evaluate loads imposed upon a wheelchair when subjected to a 48 kph/20 g frontal crash. Using a four-point belt tiedown system to secure the wheelchair, securement point, seat, lap belt anchor, and wheel loads are evaluated under three different securement configurations. Results show that positioning of rear securement points near the wheelchair center of gravity can serve as an effective strategy for managing crash response and loadings on the wheelchair. Force ranges for each of the evaluated parameters, derived for a 50th percentile male using a simulated power wheelchair, are provided for use as a preliminary guide when designing transportable wheelchairs.

Civic responsibility and market positioning: complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act

Centres on measuring lodging operator compliance with regard to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The intent was to measure current level of physical compliance with the ADA; future plans in meeting or exceeding ADA requirements; and barriers which impeded complete compliance. The participants in this study were selected from a list of hotels and motels contained in the 1994 version of the Hotel and Travel Index. The lodging operations were represented by full service, limited service and economy properties which varied from 25 to 615 guest rooms per property, restaurant, and meeting facilities. The findings of this study suggested that total compliance has not been achieved in certain areas, vagueness of the legislation is not necessarily a barrier in compliance, and financial constraints are a barrier in non‐compliance. Implies that lodging operators must properly position their products and services, otherwise the disabled travellers’ needs will not be totally met, and that lodging operators need to continue their civic respon‐ sibility for meeting the needs of the disabled travellers’ needs.

Advanced Accessibility Systems for Elderly and Disabled Travellers in Canada

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.

Air Transporation and the Disabled

Air transportation is becoming increasingly more accessible to the disabled traveller. This is due to many reasons. The disabled themselves are now very much a part of twentieth century society in which air travel plays a large role. To this end, several international organizations representing the disabled have been pressuring for increased accessibility. As well, the airlines have realized that the disabled represent a sizable market potential and thus they have begun accessibility and staff sensitization programs. This article will first provide a summary of the current situation for disabled travellers and will discuss such things as architectural barriers and other limitations both in the airport and on-board the aircraft. The second section will discuss the current research into improving the comsort of the disabled passenger. Topics such as modification of on-board washroom facilities, adapted aids kits and on-board wheelchairs will be presented. Part three will be a short discussion of resources and organizations available to the disabled traveller. It is hoped that occupational therapists will gain a better understanding of the resources and developments in this area.