TRANSPORTATION MOBILITY ANALYSIS OF THE HANDICAPPED

Handicapped people are one of the neglected minorities of transportation planning. For decades, their needs in transportation have been neglected in favor of the needs of the overwhelming majority. This had meant that, in a society in which mobility is a prerequisite of living, the handicapped are forced to travel very little and either depend on their friends and family for transportation or pay the high cost of special transportation. Handicapped people make up about 11 percent of the population. They are, though, divided by numerous disabilities each of which has its own special limitations. This paper studies the mobility of the handicapped in terms of broad functional classification. In terms of individual personal mobility, a 6-step classification from needing a persons help in moving to no limitations is analyzed. The analysis also includes means of travel, number of trips made, cost of travel, opinions on the adequacy of current conditions, and possible improvements. Handicapped people, especially those with severe handicaps, made fewer trips, depended more on family and friends to drive them, used more expensive travel modes, and were willing to pay more for any new transportation than the average citizen. Furthermore, it was found that improvement in transportation will have to be of at least 3 types: improvements for the ambulatory, improvements for those in wheelchairs who can travel 2 or more blocks (negotiate curbs), and improvements for those in wheelchairs who cannot travel 2 or more blocks. Improvements would range from relatively minor bus modifications, such as lower stairs, to new, special door-to-door services.