A STUDY OF WHEELCHAIR-BUS OPERATIONS IN A SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENT: AN IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS INHIBITING USAGE AND ESTIMATES OF IMPACTS

This report covers the results of a two-year study which dealt with an analysis of travel barriers confronting the wheelchair-handicapped in getting to and from bus stops served by lift-equipped buses in a suburban county and an investigation of the service impacts of wheelchair passengers' demand on a bus route's travel time, schedule, and service reliability in a suburban county. The study is based on data collected in Westchester County, New York. The travel barrier analysis was undertaken through interviews with a sample of wheelchair users and the service impact analysis was carried out using a bus route simulation model which was developed as part of this research. The documentation of the simulation model is detailed in Appendix 3 of the full report. The sample survey showed that approximately 80% of those interviewed do not travel by bus because better alternatives are available. Although most of the respondents would experience severe difficulties traveling alone due to the presence of barriers, about 50% of the sample would still need assistance in getting to the bus even if travel barriers were removed. Schedule, route travel time, and service reliability impacts were found to be small for "average" wheelchair ridership demand.