Universal Design on Translink Buses

Week 8: Accessibility of Transit

On the city of Vancouver website, it states that, "All conventional buses, community shuttles, SkyTrain and Canada Line vehicles, SeaBus, and West Coast Express trains are fully accessible to people of all abilities." This statement is not true since not all buses or stops are wheelchair stops. In June 2012, only 63.5 per cent of bus stops in Metro Vancouver (which encompasses 22 municipalities) were deemed accessible by TransLink. That means 1/3 of the bus stops in Vancouver can't be accessed by people in wheelchairs. 

Image: New wayfinding signage with raised text and braille (source: http://buzzer.translink.ca/)

Another problem with accessibility is signage and wayfinidng for bus stops. With these new bus signs, even those with limited sight can find the bus schedules and contact information. The contrast of colours make it easier to spot from a greater distance making it a convenient addition to all the bus stops. These extensions along with the bright, yellow, tactile strips around each of the bay stops make transit more accessible to everyone.

Image: Wheelchair Ramp (source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/)

One of the challenges of using the transit system is getting on and off the bus in a wheelchair. In the picture, the slope of the grade is relatively flat making rolling up and down the ramp not as straining as it can be. If the difference in elevation of the grade was any more, the action of getting on and off the bus would be incredibly difficult. 

Getting past the farebox...with scratches of course (source: http://buzzer.translink.ca/)

The next challenge once the wheelchair is on the bus is getting past the farebox. If the wheelchair had a narrower footprint, the box would not be any problem. However, it was a motorized chair with 4 wheels like the on in the picture, getting past the box can be a bit of a challenge. You'll probably end up scrapping the paint off the scooter by the time you've parked it in the wheelchair spot. 

Image: The dreaded hook and strap system (source: http://buzzer.translink.ca/)

After the strategic maneuvers and 3-4-5 point turns, the most embarrassing part has yet to come. I haven't had anyone strap me in since I was 5. This hook and strap system to secure the wheels of the wheelchair is archaic and troublesome as it requires the efforts of the bus driver to put them on and off.

Image: Person in wheelchair using the "ironing board" system (source: Oran Viriyincy flickr)

The ironing board method is an easier alternative compared the the hook and strap system. Because the upholstered board protects the back of the head from hitting the metal fixture. It also doesn't need a seat belt securing device that requires to be strapped in. It creates a less awkward experience for the person in the wheelchair and allow for more independence and freedom.

The experience for wheelchair users is an unfriendly one. It's also uncomfortable for mobile passengers as well. Seating arrangements can make the whole transit experience awkward and unpleasant especially with high occupancy. Here's a count down of the worst to best seating arrangements for the rear of the bus. 

 4) The "Footsie War" 

Image: "The war for legroom" formation (Source: http://darylvsworld.files.wordpress.com/) The worst seating arrangement would the 2 seats facing each other. Not only does it promote confrontation for leg room, it is very uncomfortable to get in and out of. The opportunities for awkward eye contact are plentiful, For those with a sensitive stomach and equilibrium, riding backwards can be nauseating. Also more than 1 person may have to get up and move in order to get out. 3) The Slip and Slide

Image: Slip and slide formation (source: kevinsbusrail.com) The corridor formation provides a lot of benefits over the others. The under seat space allows for storage of extra bags; and essential for students like me with multiple heavy bags. There's easy access in and out of the seats and doesn't require anyone to move out of the way. However, the cons outweigh the pros for this arrangement. If you're a larger person or carrying extra bags, you'll take up more than one seat. The formation also forces passengers to play eye-tag and avoid awkward eye contact. Also when the corridor fills up with standing passengers, it becomes a wall of people closing in on those sitting down. However the worse of it is that the vinyl seats act as a slide when the bus stops suddenly. Every time the bus brakes I ended up being launched into the acrylic partition.   2) Corridor Formation Image: Corridor arrangement (Source: flickr.com)

The corridor arrangement is the improved version of the Slide N Slide. However, the fabric seats are hard to clean and probably harbour tons of bacteria and dirt. They're also less comfortable because there's no cushion and is just an upholstered metal seat.  

1) Pairs Formation

Image: Pairs formation (Source: vancitybuzz.com

The best formation for the back of the bus is the pairs formation. Although the person sitting in the aisle seat may have to get up and move in order for the window seat person to get out. Other than that, this formation allows for ample standing space and under seat storage. The back row seats can be quite uncomfortable for those sitting in the window seat. In addition, chance of awkward eye contact is eliminated.

Overall although there are flaws with the accessibility on Translink, they're making improvements to make it friendly to use for everyone. Hopefully with time, Translink can make there services 100% accessible. Taking transit, for me, will always be an uncomfortable task but there are ways to make it less unbearable. Providing larger bus for rush hour times will allow more people to use the services and allow for more breathing room while lowering hostility between patrons. Once the Compass card is fully implemented, the clunky farebox will (hopefully) be a thing of the past allowing larger wheelchairs to be accommodated while allowing for increased boarding speed. Layouts for seats should be planned for maximum standing room and allow for getting in and out with ease.