Usability Evaluation of Access Ramps in Transit Buses: Preliminary Findings

Lenker, James; Damle, Uma; D’Souza, Clive; Paquet, Victor; Mashtare, Terry; Steinfeld, Edward

doi:10.5038/2375-0901.19.2.7

Cited by 19 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…This slope was less than the maximum gradient of 14.0 degrees (1:4) currently permissible for access ramps by federal standards for transit vehicle accessibility [10] yet posed problems for manual wheelchair users. Recent laboratory studies on ramp usability [29] and naturalistic field studies on boarding and disembarking [8] support our findings on problems faced by wheeled mobility device users when using access ramps. Lower ramp slopes may reduce difficulty in using the ramp, fare payment and traveling to the securement area, especially when boarding at the forward doorway (Layout 1).…”

Section: Ramp Usage During Boarding and Disembarkingsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Likewise, the Acceptability Rating Scale measures acceptability of a task in a two-step rating process using a 7-point ordinal scale ranging from −3 (very unacceptable) to +3 (very acceptable). These measures have demonstrated convergent validity with other functional measures of task performance when using in-door environments [40] and access ramps on buses [29].…”

Section: Post-trial Questionnaire Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Laboratory-based human factors research on transit bus usability have largely comprised evaluations of specific components used in the bus environment such as access ramps [29] and wheeled mobility securement systems [30,31,32] for comfort, safety, ease-of-use, and efficiency. There are few usability evaluations of the vehicle environment in its entirety during the boarding and disembarking process [24,33,34,35,36].…”

Section: Previous Usability Research On Transit Vehicle Features By Wmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lower ramp slopes may reduce difficulty in using the ramp, fare payment and traveling to the securement area, especially when boarding at the forward doorway (Layout 1). Lenker, Damle [29] recommend a slope of 1:8 for access ramps as best practice though achieving this would require improving the design of ramps and/or conditions at bus stop pads (e.g., raised concrete platforms).…”

Section: Ramp Usage During Boarding and Disembarkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Self-reported difficulty and preferences of wheeled mobility device users for simulated low-floor bus boarding, interior circulation and disembarking

D’Souza

Paquet

Lenker

et al. 2017

Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology

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Understanding transit usability barriers, perceptions and preferences among wheeled mobility users is an important consideration for clinicians who recommend mobility-related device interventions to those who use public transportation. Implications for Rehabilitation In order to maximize community participation opportunities for wheeled mobility users, clinicians should consider potential public transit barriers during the processes of wheelchair device selection and skills training. Usability barriers experienced by wheeled mobility device users on transit vehicles differ by mobility device type and vehicle configurations. Full-scale environment simulations are an effective means of identifying usability barriers and design needs in people with mobility impairments and may provide an alternative model for determining readiness for using fixed route buses or eligibility for paratransit.

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Section: Ramp Usage During Boarding and Disembarkingsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Post-trial Questionnaire Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Previous Usability Research On Transit Vehicle Features By Wmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Ramp Usage During Boarding and Disembarkingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Self-reported difficulty and preferences of wheeled mobility device users for simulated low-floor bus boarding, interior circulation and disembarking

D’Souza

Paquet

Lenker

et al. 2017

Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…The Difficulty and Acceptability Rating Scales are widely used measures of environmental usability and with established psychometric properties [ 25 , 58 , 59 , 60 ]. The Difficulty Rating Scale measures perceived ease or difficulty of task completion using a 7-point ordinal scale ranging from −3 (very difficult) to +3 (very easy).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wheeled Mobility Use on Accessible Fixed-Route Transit: A Field Study in Environmental Docility

Lim

D’Souza

2021

IJERPH

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Multiple field studies provide qualitative accounts of usability barriers experienced by users of wheeled mobility devices on public transit. This study aimed to examine these usability barriers from the theoretical perspective of Environmental Docility by quantifying the relationship between functional capabilities of wheeled mobility device users and ingress–egress performance on accessible fixed-route transit vehicles in an urban setting. Twenty-eight wheeled mobility users each completed three trips on a predetermined route through the local public transit system. Ingress and egress times, user-reported usability ratings and open-ended comments were analyzed. Regression analyses indicated significant interactions between age and minimum parallel-park length on ingress and egress times. Specifically, lower functional capability reflected in older age and less maneuvering ability predicted decreased performance (longer ingress–egress times), indicating less adaptability to environmental demands and agreement with the Environmental Docility Hypothesis. Usability ratings and comments revealed difficulty with negotiating access ramps and turning maneuvers in the vehicle interior and in proximity to other passengers. Despite compliance with accessibility standards, current design of transit vehicles present substantial usability barriers for wheeled mobility users. Environmental Docility provides a theoretical basis to identifying modifiable factors related to person and environment for improving usability of public transit for people aging and/or with mobility impairments.

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Effects of transit bus interior configuration on performance of wheeled mobility users during simulated boarding and disembarking

et al. 2017

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Usability Evaluation of Access Ramps in Transit Buses: Preliminary Findings

Abstract: Abstract

Cited by 19 publications

References 12 publications

Self-reported difficulty and preferences of wheeled mobility device users for simulated low-floor bus boarding, interior circulation and disembarking

Self-reported difficulty and preferences of wheeled mobility device users for simulated low-floor bus boarding, interior circulation and disembarking

Wheeled Mobility Use on Accessible Fixed-Route Transit: A Field Study in Environmental Docility

Effects of transit bus interior configuration on performance of wheeled mobility users during simulated boarding and disembarking

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