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Identifying accessibility problems in existing transit system :

Identifying accessibility problems in existing transit system :. Edward Steinfeld Michael Grimble Victor Paquet IDeA Center, University at Buffalo/SUNY, Buffalo, USA Aaron Steinfeld Shree Lakshmi Rao Allison Tran Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA.

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Identifying accessibility problems in existing transit system :

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  1. Identifying accessibility problems in existing transit system: Edward Steinfeld Michael Grimble Victor PaquetIDeA Center, University at Buffalo/SUNY, Buffalo, USA Aaron SteinfeldShree Lakshmi RaoAllison TranRobotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, USA 18th September 2012 TRANSED 2012

  2. RERC APT • The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Accessible Public Transportation • Research and develop approaches to design and evaluate the accessibility of transportation environments, equipment, and information services • These approaches go beyond traditional accessibility audits • We take a broader, systems approach that emphasizes universal design principles

  3. Universal Design Approach Environment Equipment IT End Users Gov’t Standards Makers Transit Authorities + Manufacturers RERC APT Applied UD Research and Development

  4. New Approaches in 2 Field Studies • “Guided Tours” • “Real Time Reporting”

  5. Research Questions • Can our methods be used to better identify accessibility and usability challenges in public transportation services? • Will the methods identify the most relevant problems for different user groups? • Can the methods be used to identify opportunities for improved public transportation service?*

  6. Guided Tours Purpose • Demonstrate a systematic alternative to traditional accessibility audits in public transit systems. • Goal is to develop assessment techniques that can be used effectively by transit agencies and rider advocates for structured assessments of the accessibility.

  7. Guided Tours Methods • Recruited 50 Individuals from 5 users groups • Mobility (n=10), vision (n=10), frail elderly (n=10), cognitive (n=10), hearing (n=10) • Each completed a predetermined route (i.e., “tour”) in Buffalo, New York • A researcher observed the tour and noted challenging and supportive design features • Participants rated activities along the way using self reported scales of difficulty and acceptability • Interviews were conducted to identify why challenges occurred • Opportunities for minimizing challenges were identified

  8. Guided Tours Methods The tour included several activities to simulate use of the “complete travel chain”: • Planning the trip • Going to the transit terminal via public streets • Purchasing a ticket • Riding a light rail train to the destination • Going to the bus stop via public streets • Riding a low floor bus back to the origin.

  9. Guided Tours Results • Barriers to finding and using information about the system were the most frequent and provided the greatest challenges. • Especially for those with mobility or visual impairments • All groups had frequent difficulties planning a trip, purchasing tickets and finding the bus stop. • There are many opportunities to the services for better accessibility that have been missed previously. • Improvements to websites, maps, signage, street crossings, bus shelter, ticketing machine features, seating features, displays and auditory announcements, and security.

  10. Real Time Reporting Purpose • To develop and evaluate a method that empowers users to improve their public transportation experience • Reduce uncertainty and anxiety around transit service delivery, especially people with disabilities. • Provide riders with a way to communicate problems to service providers.

  11. Real Time Reporting A New Smart Phone Application • Tiramisu (“pick me up”) empowers bus riders to have an impact on the bus transit system and more effectively plan bus trips. • Problems and positive experiences are communicated to the local transit system and public via the web. • Photograph and text postings are used. • Predicts the arrival time of transit buses and number of available seats.

  12. Real Time Reporting How does it work? • Allows users to find nearby bus stops through a map or list • Provides predictions of arrival times based on scheduled, historical and real-time location data and ratings for bus load • Users identify the bus they are boarding, their destination, and rate the bus load • Users can share a location recording while riding – they become the GPS beacon! • Feedback about the bus service is uploaded to a website

  13. Real Time Reporting Interface

  14. Real Time Reporting Methods • The system was pilot tested in Pittsburgh, PA via the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute • Access to application given to bus riders • Data on 20,000 trips was recorded • User reports were evaluated for content

  15. Real Time Reporting Results: Emergent Themes • Difference between agency schedule and the observed bus arrival time • Route design and data quality, including suggesting detours • Cleanliness and maintenance of the transit system • Real-time communications with transportation authority are desired

  16. Real Time Reporting Results: Opportunity toImprove Data suggests our current methods for handling reports need adaptationbecause: • Users desire to participate in a feedback loop with the agency and the Tiramisu team more directly • Users don’t understand how reports were handled and don’t yet obtain feedback on their contribution • Need to enable, cultivate, and support discussion and dialogue between users and service providers in a timely/real-time basis

  17. Conclusions • The methods used in these 2 studies allowed us to identify many challenges with transportation chain, some of which would have been missed with traditional accessibility audits. • Different problems were identified for different user groups, demonstrating it is important to involve many user groups to be inclusive. • Many new opportunities for improved public transportation service have been identified. • Mobile IT is promising. • All stakeholders must be involved in the process.

  18. Acknowledgements Center for Inclusive Design & Environmental Access School of Architecture & Planning State University of New York at Buffalo 378 Hayes Hall | 3435 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214 – 3087 Funded by: The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) through the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Accessible Public Transportation (RERC-APT)

  19. Thank You! Center for Inclusive Design & Environmental Access School of Architecture & Planning State University of New York at Buffalo 378 Hayes Hall | 3435 Main Street Buffalo, NY 14214 – 3087 +1 (716) 829.5902 +1 (716) 829.3861 ap-idea@buffalo.edu http://www.ap.buffalo.edu/idea http://www.udeworld.com tel: fax: email: web: web:

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