Ideas Lab
Wheelchair Accessible On Public Transportation
HASHIR SALEEM
Despite the large numbers of users, with wide variations in communication or accessibility needs, public transport still scope to improve User Experience (UX). A qualitative analysis (Velho, 2019) found that public transport is often designed without checking the effectiveness of integrated technology and equipment for wheelchair users. The study concluded that equipment used on London buses, such as ramps are not reliable such as failing to deploy and serve as a route for anxiety in their travels.
If public transport is designed without empathy for the experience of a user with physical disabilities, what problem is it actually seeking to resolve? Ambiguous solutions can lead to a complicated on-board UX.
This design provocation addresses ease of use in public transport (buses), comfort, and independence for wheelchair users. The goal is to optimise entry or exit from a bus, and the journey on board to make that process seamless. This is proposed through integration of a more adjustable ramp and platform control given to the user.
(The ramp angle shown in the sketches is for illustration purposes only)
Personal perspective
From my own experience, I have witnessed wheelchair users struggle while using buses on a regular basis. Hence keeping those experiences and perspective in mind when considering a solution.
Reference
Velho, R., (2019). Transport accessibility for wheelchair users: A qualitative analysis of inclusion and health, International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology, Volume 8, Issue 2, Pages 103-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijtst.2018.04.005. Accessed 9/07/2021
Coventry University, (2021) Automotive and Transport Design course, Module 4003AAD Design, Function and Users. Led by Dr Peter Atkinson.
Comments
A lot more work needs to be started in order to fully understand the User Experience, not just of the functionality of transport systems but more empathetically, of the impact of anxiety that weak 'support' systems can cause. As will all of these subjects, the answer is not one thing in isolation but rather the composite of a number of eqully well thought through solutions, to smaller discrete issues. The result then has a far better chance of providing a better overall system.
2 years ago