The Gap between Vehicle and Platform as a Barrier for the Disabled; An Effort to Empirically Relate the Gap Size to the Difficulty of Bridging it

Abstract

This paper describes how the gap between public transport vehicles and platforms is an important factor in the (in) accessibility of public transport. Much of the effort to increase the accessibility is directed at minimizing the gap, both horizontally and vertically. There is a general idea of the widths and heights that are downright unacceptable (15x15cm being too much), but much less of what should be achieved without aids such as lifts and ramps. Organizations of the disabled may demand a maximum of 2x2cm! It is essential to know how much can be achieved by narrowing the gap: which type and gravity of disability will be accommodated and the numbers of disabled who will profit from a certain investment to decrease the width and height of the gap. On request of the Dutch National Office for Accessibility, Delft University of Technology performed laboratory experiments to gain quantitative insights. For these experiments, a standard platform was built in a laboratory hall. Along this platform a number of plateaus representing public transport vehicles were placed. These were positioned at different combinations of horizontal and vertical distances. Persons with physical disabilities were invited by the National Office for testing the different gaps. During thirteen days about 150 people from all over the Netherlands came to Delft to try to overcome the succession of gaps. This opportunity was utilized to confront the participants with two different urban buses, parked in the laboratory. The process of entering the bus, reaching a seat or wheelchair site and taking and leaving it was observed and discussed with them.

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