Guest Speak

Need for Inclusive Transport - Access and Mobility issues faced by People with disabilities and the Elderly

Transport is defined as movement of people and goods from one place to another. Today, transport plays a major role in economic and social development of a community. Communities having no transport infrastructure are often isolated from the world and thus, tend to be poor.

In developing countries, persons with disabilities and the elderly are often denied access to health, economic and social activities, and are left out of development programmes, as their mobility and access needs are not adequately addressed by the existing transport systems.

Mobility and Access

In most developed countries, it is seen that the public transport facilities in urban areas have access and mobility features included to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. However, this is not the case in rural and peri-urban/provincial town areas.

“In spite of all trends, most persons with disabilities especially in Africa and Asia -- do not live in cities. For example, a recent report states that 87% of the five million persons with disabilities in Vietnam live in rural areas. Even in Latin America, at least a quarter of the disabled population lives in rural areas”. (Source-Accessible Transportation Around the World, Newsletter of Access Exchange International (AEI) June 2004)

In few developing countries (including India) there are efforts being made to incorporate accessibility features in urban transport. While in rural areas, where problems like lack of proper transport facilities, lack of paved roads, and high transport costs are commonly seen, the transport infrastructure is completely inaccessible. As a result, disabled people and the elderly are often dependent on family members to escort them.

Basic movement like walking from one lane to the other is also very difficult for persons with disabilities in these areas, as the infrastructure is not accessible. Ramps for wheel chair users, signages/boards for the deaf and blind are absent. In Nepal, a majority of the footbridges do not have ramps but steps incorporated in their designs. Even pedestrian walkways are blocked by parked vehicles, street vendors or by advertising hoardings.

In rural areas, most of the transport means are Intermediate Means of Transport (IMT), which hardly provide a comfortable ride for passengers. IMTs provide only minimum safety and are appropriate in areas without any transport services. However, they are inaccessible for wheelchair users and other persons with disabilities.

In extreme geographical conditions, like areas with river-crossings and mountainous topography, mobility of persons with physical impairments is completely hampered. They are compelled to stay at home and, lack access to even basic health care.

Also, in rural areas, farm produce is often carried on head and/or back, particularly by women, due to lack of appropriate transport means. This could cause severe disabilities such as spinal chord and back injuries.

The Way Forward

One of the major reasons for poor transport infrastructure is the ignorance of policy makers in addressing travel needs of people and ensuring implementation of existing transport policies. Several organisations, including the World Bank have come out with guidelines to meet the accessibility and mobility needs of persons with disabilities, children, women and the elderly.

Given below are some suggestions, to make the transport infrastructure accessible

• Provide ramps at bus halts for floor-level boarding.
• Inclusion of appropriate technical features in the design of road crossings and foot bridges to assist wheelchair users, blind, deaf and elderly passengers who have a difficulty in climbing steps.
• Provide assistance to alight buses (additional hand rail and wider doors)
• Preference seats for disabled persons and senior citizens with additional safety features in public transport.

To make transport systems accessible for persons with disabilities and the elderly, a change in attitude of policy makers and transport service providers is needed.

Ranjith de Silva
Regional Coordinator for Asia & the Pacific
International Forum for Rural Transport and Development (IFRTD)
Sri Lanka