Resources – Transportation

Bridging the Gap: Your role in transporting children with disabilities to school in developing countries

This guide is divided into three parts, each presenting topical sections and case studies which can help to bridge the gap between education and transportation practitioners and, far more important, to bridge the gap between where students with disabilities live and the schools they need to attend. Some sections of this guide are relevant to different degrees to most children (for example, discussions about walking to school). Many sections are specifically relevant to those children with disabilities who, unlike their peers without disabilities, must ride in a vehicle if they are to attend inclusive schools which welcome all children.

Paratransit for mobility impaired persons in developing regions: Starting up and scaling up

Cover of document titled Paratransit for Mobility Impaired Persons in Developing Regions

Paratransit for mobility impaired persons in developing regions: Starting up and scaling up is a result-oriented, practical guide about addressing the needs of persons with disabilities and others for paratransit service when accessible fixed-route bus or rail service is not available or, if available, cannot be used by persons who need more specialized transportation.

This guide is written for city officials, transit operators, entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), social service agencies, and others who may wish to start up or expand door-to-door paratransit services to help mobility-impaired persons to get to where they need to go.

Photo of a man kneeling on the footplate of his wheelchair and using the handrails on either side of the entryway to get onto train steps, as the train car is not accessible.

The document (untagged PDF format, 2.8MB) may be downloaded from GAATES or downloaded from Access Exchange International. Download PDF With many thanks to Tom Rickert at Access Exchange International for permitting GAATES to post this document.

A Review of International Best Practice in Accessible Public Transportation for Persons with Disabilities

by Kamal Malhotra, Resident Representative for United Nations Development (UNDP) Malaysia

Cover of document about International Best Practices in Public Transportation for Persons with Disabilities

Persons with disabilities continue to be among the most marginalized groups in any society. While international human rights frameworks have changed many lives, persons with disabilities have not necessarily enjoyed the same benefits.

A wheelchair user is being pushed up the ramps into the back carrying area of tricycle Tuk Tuk.

This report provides an international overview of the key technical issues on accessible public transportation for persons with disabilities. It begins with a brief description of the prevalence of disability and factors that influence accessibility. It also explains why safe and convenient pedestrian infrastructure is particularly essential for persons with disabilities if they wish to satisfactorily access public transport. It then provides a discussion on design requirements and best practices for vehicles, bus stops and bus and train stations as well as important arguments on the importance of signage and information. The report also illustrates best practices for training courses for transport providers and transport users as these have been among the central elements for making public transport services more accessible. The report also explains how some of the barriers faced by persons with disabilities are often an unintentional result of particular policies of government and transport operators.

Transit staff person assists man using wheelchair board an accessible bus

View or download the International Best Practice in Accessible Public Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Download PDF external (untagged PDF format, 7.7MB).

Accessible Transportation Information – Small Buses and Tie-Downs

The following information deals with small buses and accessibility for persons with disabilities, including those who wished to travel on their own wheelchairs. It is information that has been referenced from the UK.

A man reaches to secure a seatbelt over a man using a wheelchair

In 2007, the specification was amended to concentrate more fully on the low-floor vehicles. That specification can be found in the archives of the UK Department for Transport. external The specification is free to reference and is totally appropriate for vehicles of European design. The second question is of wheelchair securement, or tie-downs. The company, C N Unwin Ltd, also trading as Unwin Safety Systems, external were pioneers in developing this equipment more than 50 years ago, and the company has its own dynamic test facility onsite, where they can crash-test their systems to ensure they meet the most stringent international standards and regulations. Information courtesy of – Mr. Campbell McKee.