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Environmental Barriers to Community Transportation Experienced by Mobility Device Users

This is a summary of the results from a national survey of mobility device users for Easter Seals Project Action: "Status Report on the Current Use of Wheelchairs and Other Mobility Devices on Public and Private Transportation"

Mobility device users include persons using power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, scooters, canes, crutches, walkers and lower extremity prosthesis. These mobility device users are using public transportation (paratransit and fixed route) and social services transportation options in greater numbers than ever before, but they continue to experience environmental barriers that should be removed to make transportation services easier to use. Anything that makes using public and social services transportation difficult can be considered an environmental barrier. These environmental barriers should be identified and understood from the point-of-view of mobility device users.

A manual wheelchair user with cambered wheels trying to board a public transit bus with a narrow ramp

A manual wheelchair user with cambered wheels trying to board a public transit bus with a narrow ramp.

Several scientific studies have addressed safety problems associated with using wheelchair tie-downs and occupant restraint systems (WTORS). Very few studies have been conducted to determine the most significant environmental barriers that mobility device users have encountered. Removing environmental barriers is a key to improving transportation services for people with disabilities. The goal of this study was to identify the barriers that mobility device users encountered. Information about these barriers can contribute to innovative designs of new WTORS and transportation vehicles.

Members of the CATEA Consumer Network (CCN), along with mobility device users from other organizations were invited to participate in an online survey to begin investigating these issues. During a one month period, 118 mobility device users in a national sample who rode public and social services transportation identified important barriers to the use, comfort, safety and satisfaction with public and social services transportation. Survey results showed that:

  • 17.4% experienced service denials (most related to the size of the mobility device)
  • 25% experienced WTORS problems that got in the way of their device and accessories
  • 49.6% used WTORS with difficulty, largely due to poor operator training and attitudes
  • 75.9% supported a ‘transit option’ consisting of permanent brackets or loops on the mobility device for the attachment of vehicle tie-down equipment (ANSI/RESNA WC-19 Standard).
close up picture of WTORS applied without transit option

This is a photograph of WTORS applied without the benefit of WC-19 Transit Option bracket. Also, note that the occupant restraint is placed outside the rear wheel. It should be placed low around the rider's waist inside the rear wheels. This problem is due in part to poor operator training on the use of WTORS.

To summarize, the findings seemed to indicate that service denials are a continuing problem. Advocates should be encouraged to address service denials and inadequate operator training. Transportation planners and vehicle designers should be encouraged to plan for the next generation of larger wheeled mobility devices and seating systems and for the personal equipment and accessories of users, including service animals, portable oxygen and ventilators. Transportation service managers should target their operator and customer support training to improve user satisfaction. Perhaps the most exciting survey finding was the overwhelming support for the WC-19 ‘Transit Option’ Standard. Wheelchair and scooter users should be encouraged to obtain the ‘transit option’ on their next mobility device. Wheelchair manufacturers should be encouraged to make the WC-19 transit option available on all their wheelchair and scooter models.

picture of a service animal

Here is a photograph of a service animal traveling with a wheelchair user. Space has not been designed to accommodate service animals.

Assistance for this project was derived for Easter Seals Project ACTION through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration and administrated through Easter Seals Project ACTION and Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates, Inc. The participation and support of the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wheeled Mobility in Everyday Life at the Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, is acknowledged.

You can review the extended article in the CATEA Assistive Technology Wiki.