Title

Low floor bus and bus shelter: mobility for all

Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2007

Subject Area

Infrastructure - Facilities, Infrastructure - Low Floor, Modes of Transport - Bus, Population - Ageing of the Population, Transport planning - Accessibility planning

Abstract

Public transportation is a common man’s transport for activities of community living. Growth in the elderly population, allied with greater integration of persons with disabilities (PwDs) into daily life, has led to greater demand for transit service to meet their mobility needs. Delhi has a population of 17 million wherein buses carry approximately 80 per cent of passengers, which constitute only 2-8 per cent of daily vehicular traffic. The projected growth presents an opportunity for new design options, for example, Low Floor Buses (LFB) and accessible Bus-Q-Shelters (BQS). Samarthya‘s mission is to promote ‘Mobility for All’, with policy of co-operation and co-ordination between the user groups and stake-holders. It undertook a Research Study “Promotion of User-friendly Public Transportation System- Buses & Bus Shelters’. The objective was to document the existing infrastructure, provide user groups perspective, evaluate and assess the public transportation services in Delhi. . Information was collected by questionnaire from 100 PwDs and interviews/opinion survey of 15 eminent transport planners from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), School of Planning & Architecture and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC). PwDs, architect and engineer also conducted accessibility checks of bus terminuses/shelters, existing high chassis buses and the newly introduced LFB by Delhi Government. The results were compiled into a database and shared with transportation experts and Government. The major outcome of the Research Study was a cost effective BQS based on the principles of universal design by Samarthya. The Minister for Transport, Delhi approved the design and inaugurated the prototype at Hauz Khas Terminal on 19 March 2006. The prototype design comprised of bus shelter at a height of 380 mm, synchronizing with the chassis level of LFB, thus making it convenient for embarking and disembarking by all users. The BQS is equipped with ramps on both sides; tactile warning tiles for persons with vision impairment; Braille plate with route information; space for two wheel-chair users with access symbol painted on the ground; information signage; colour contrast and priority seats. Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment granted Rs. 10 million (2,40,000 US$) to build 25 BQS on the LFB route to DTC. NDMC awarded construction of 197 BQS on Buy-Operate-Transfer basis to J. C. Decaux advertising company. A joint inspection by NDMC, Samarthya and J. C. Decaux of first BQS at Humayun Road has been conducted and construction process is in full swing. LFB and upcoming BQS with its inclusive and universal design are the result of partnership between the users and service providers. The Delhi Government has decided for gradual replacement of old fleet of buses by LFB by 2010. The work on Bus Rapid Transit System with LFB and compatible BQS has commenced. The growing service needs, the public responsibility to provide accessible services, the varied advantages low floor buses offer to all public with the new BQS design; all have proven their value as integral component of future accessible public transport system.