Improving Transportation Options for Disability Communities
What are the major issues
with transportation for the I/DD Community?
Based on national statistics and studies from Ohio, Minnesota, and Florida these were some of the most pressing transportation barriers for the I/DD Community:
Public transportation systems do not always operate in the times or locations when and where they are needed.
Public transit systems are not time efficient, and they lack funding.
Lack of accessibility and flaws in the public transportation system creates safety concerns.
On the weekends especially, operating hours are not flexible, and in rural areas transportation options are even more limited. In an Ohioan survey, riders did not believe they could make spontaneous or flexible travel decisions. This limits or prevents their participation in a variety of activities such as maintaining a job, participating in social activities, or attending medical appointments. These factors prevent them from integrating into their community and from living independently. In many cases, transportation from friends/family is more reliable.
There are major scheduling challenges which result in long wait times for rides.
“I had a summer job downtown in Cleveland and I was dropped off more than 1 hour before the building opened. I had to sit outside by myself. Sometimes I was late because of the same window.”
“I have to rely on my family for transportation to my part-time job. I have Access but I cannot depend on it getting me to my job on time nor having it show up when my shift is over.”
“One of the biggest problems I have is to take the bus to where I need to go takes well over an hour, but is [a] 20 minute car ride.”
“[Our son] cannot take a bus to work, because it would take approximately 2 hours to get to his job [which] is less than 20 minutes from his home.”
Many riders expressed concern of getting to a pickup point where there were no sidewalks, crossing the street, waiting for long periods of times making them susceptible to crime, and the vehicle or driver itself.
Drivers do not always understand the rider's needs.
In an Ohioan study, many respondents said that the drivers did not have the training to know how to accommodate their needs.
“Drivers have made assumptions about me (such as that I am deaf because I sign and use AAC), touch me out of a desire to help.”
“Train drivers to go up to the individual when they pull up to the house! Continue door to door service to help deaf-blind individuals nd their buses.”
Drivers stated that lack of funding prevents them from providing services especially in less traveled destinations and during lower usage times. Lack of funding also prevents providers from obtaining vans accomodated for wheelchairs which usually cost 2 times more than a regular van.
The 2015 North Carolina Department of Transportation ADA self assessment and transition plan:
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Analyzed deficiencies in physical barriers (parking, access, restrooms, drinking fountains, etc.) and from this created a transition plan to move forward.
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“Of the 87,000 curb ramps evaluated, 62% or nearly 54,000 curb ramps were found to be non-compliant”
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Some of their solutions:
-Installation of level entry landing, paving and striping of parking lots
- Installation of signage
- Installation or reinstallation of curb cuts and ramps
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The self assessment focused a lot on physical barriers in transportation.
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The report shows there is still a lot to be done with improving transportation in the disability community
I Get Around- Improving Transportation Options:
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North Carolina has 185,000 citizens in the I/DD community who can't be fully independent due to an inability to obtain reliable and accessible transportation.
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The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services State Plan identified the following transportation barriers for North Carolinians with disabilities:
1. Lack of private providers providing transportation at an affordable rate.
2. Many individuals with disabilities don't have a driver’s license and/or vehicle and have no family or friends who
can offer transportation.
3. Current policy regarding the agency contribution toward the cost of vehicles for modification is a major barrier to VR
clients who need to buy a modified vehicle.
4. VR policy is not adjusted for geographical differences.
5. VR sponsorship of transportation is a short-term solution, time-consuming process , and is sometimes unreliable.
NC ADA Network
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The NC ADA Network has partnered with the Southeast ADA Center and formed a statewide network of grassroots partners, which are headed by individuals with disabilities.
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Goal: Increase compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
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They have hosted ADA Trainings, distributed ADA publications and information, provided ADA technical assistance and lead public awareness and educational events serving people with disabilities, family members, and businesses from all 100 North Carolina counties.
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2014- The grassroots organizations hosted ADA projects for 44 counties throughout North Carolina
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They have identified policy gaps in their communities and are working with the local policy makers to resolve these gaps.
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Examples of NC ADA Network projects and outcomes in the past five years:
-City of Rocky Mount is using Federal stimulus money to make 20 bus stops accessible.
-City of Charlotte added new accessible bus stop.
-Individuals with disabilities obtained membership on local transit advisory groups.
-City of Kernersville received federal funding for accessible fixed route transit.
-City of Charlotte moved the Steele Creek Bus Stop to a safer location, installed 2 warning signs for drivers and added a bench
to bus stop.
-ADA Network representatives are serving on the North Carolina Department of Transportation Statewide Stakeholders Group
and are working on a long-term transportation plan for NC.
-Greenville City Council made repairs and added a curb cut on 5th Street
-Since ADA training in Greenville, NC, there have been no more reports of taxis overcharging people with disabilities or
offering limited hours of service to them. One taxi company bought the 1st accessible Taxi in the city.
-ADA Network partners are developing Model Program Guide on Accessible Bus Stops.
Resources:
https://www.ncdot.gov/programs/ada/download/2015NCDOTSelfAssessmentTransitionPlan.pdf
https://nccdd.org/images/article/Forms-docs-
brochures/2017/RFA/TR_RFA_I_Get_Around_Improving_Transportation_Options.pdf