Universal Accessibility toPublic Transport

Sandeep GandhiGeetam TiwariDec 05, 2013

Inputs from: Anjalee Agarwal and Nidhi Madan

Universal Access to PublicTransport is not an option but alegal requirement

Disability act of 1995 makes itmandatory for all Public Facilitiesto be barrier free for all.

Universal Accessibility to PT

• What is Public Transport access:• Access to feeder modes• Station/Bus Stop• Vehicle

• Why Universal Accessibility• 15% of population in India suffers

some form of physical disability(WHO)

• 20% of population suffers agerelated reduced mobility (>60years), would be 32% in 2050.

• Minimum, 1/3rd of Indianpopulation would not be able toaccess public transport if it is notbarrier free Image Source: Samarthyam

Universal Feeder Access

• PT is mainlydependent on Walkas feeder.

• 78% walk feederinvolved in Metrotrip chain - 43% walkdirectly to Metro.

• Almost 100% walktrips to access buses Northwe

st North East Central West NewDelhi South Gurgaon Noida

Walk 41% 46% 39% 62% 59% 69% 43% 20% 38%Cycle 2% 1% 2% 0% 1% 1% 3% 1% 0%Rickshaw 7% 10% 9% 8% 13% 2% 4% 6% 15%Auto 15% 17% 24% 12% 9% 9% 24% 30% 22%Bus 8% 16% 12% 12% 7% 8% 12% 10% 13%Motorcycle 2% 3% 5% 8% 3% 2% 3% 11% 4%Car 26% 7% 9% 0% 4% 9% 12% 23% 9%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80% Metro Modal Share- Access Trips

Key Plan

HAUZ KHAS METROSTATION

Hauz Khas Fly over Junction

N

Delhi Metro Station Access

Key Plan

HAUZ KHAS METROSTATION

At Metro Station

N

Photos showingthe obstructions

on footpath

Hawkers

Trees on footpath

Key Plan

Temple

2-wheelerParking

Open Drainageline

Delhi BRT Station AccessAudible Signals

Kerb ramps & barrier freeaccess to traffic islands

Raised crossings onsidewalks

Delhi BRT Station Access

Designated hawking spaces, tactile paversand seating along sidewalks

White light makes yellow tactilevisible at night for partially blind

Raised cross walks across cycletracks for accessing TSR parking

Ahmedabad BRT Station Access

Discontinuous footpaths

No kerb ramps

Ahmedabad BRTS Station Access

No tactile pavers on sidewalks

No spaces for hawkers – encroachsidewalks

Metro StationWheelchair

GatesTactile

PaversLiftsVisual SignsAudio Info

Brail Signs

Image Source: Samarthyam

Image Source: Samarthyam

BRT Delhi Station AccessibilityRampsTactile

PaversVisual Signs

Audio InfoBrail Signs

Image Source: Samarthyam

BRT Ahmedabad Station AccessibilityRampsTactile

PaversVisual Signs

Audio SignsBrail Signs

Delhi Metro Vehicle AccessibilityLevel

BoardingIn-vehicle

wheelchairbelt andspaceEmergency

escaperamp

Image Source: Samarthyam

Universal Access to Bus – Possiblewith low floor bus Images Source: Samarthyam

Level boarding

Wheelchair belt and spaceinside

Ramp to road level

Universal Access to Bus: High Floorbuses – exclusion by design

Level boarding at station

Steps to Road Level

“…..high floor buses ensure that even the driver cannot stop to pick uphis girlfriend between stations….” : Bogota BRTS

Inaccessible Buses

• High floor BRT system designs areforcing cities like Pune to invest in 100’sof inaccessible high floor buses.

• Urban bus specifications have dilutednorms on accessibility – specify, all bustypes including semi low floor and highfloor.

• As part of JnNURM funding for buses,1000’s of high floor buses have beendistributed to cities.

• No incentive for either cities ormanufacturers to shift to accessiblebuses

Inaccessible buses on display at UMI 2013: Source Samarthyam

Basic features of UniversalAccessibility missing in publictransport systems – even whenthey were developed post 1995(disability act)

Most issues relate to pedestrianinfrastructure and vehiclespecifications

Way forward….• Detailed guidelines, norms and standards are required

to ensure universal access to transit.• Transit system development should include ROW

development to ensure universal accessibility• Evaluation using IUT, public transport accessibility audit

toolkit should be made mandatory for all transit projectappraisals

• Urban bus standards need to be upgraded towardsaccessible buses - will send a clear signal formanufacturers and cities

• JnNURM funding should be limited to accessible buses.• All public transport systems should be subject to

regular accessibility audits.• Ammended NUTP should include detailed norms

favouring universal accessibility to transit