Title

The integration of accessible environment and personal equipment for train ride

Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2007

Subject Area

Infrastructure - Low Floor, Mobility - Accessibility (Disability), Mobility - Mobility planning, Mobility - Wheelchair, Modes of Transport - Train

Abstract

In Japan, urban and suburban areas are spread urbanization which they are mainly developed around railroad stations, so many residents are strongly dependent on railroad. Therefore, the intercity railroad is always congested with commuters in every time. In recent years, it has tried to accessible stations and these surrounding areas in Japan. It is spreading all over around the country. It is especially advanced focusing such as elevator installation in railroad stations. However, there is still a problem when wheelchair users are getting on/off trains. In Japan, there are much number of a gap and step between trains and a platform because these reasons. In this study, it is measured about the capability to overcome a gap and step in wheelchair users, and it is developed personally equipments as universal solution. Finally, it is considered about the capabilities and the integration between the accessible technique and personal equipments. Many Japanese trains are highly adjusting a suspension and the amplitude is very large in order to get on/off many passengers in time of stopping stations. Although it has a standard between a train and a platform, but it is difficult to make a gap and step differences into zero. At many stations, a wheelchair user is greeted at a station by employee, and it is placed a board between a train and a platform, and the user is moving smoothly. However, it is not desirable from a viewpoint of the independent their mobility. In this study, it is developed the experimental device to which steps and gaps could be changed, and it is carried out a capability experiment to get over these differences for wheelchair users. Moreover, it is developed the assistive equipment to overcome these differences, and it is analyzed the performance test for the developed equipment. As the result, it is cleared that it had differentials between the part of impairment and capability of overcoming. In this study, it is divided forms of overcoming in each type of wheelchair users. Especially, it is cleared that it is impossible to get on/off independently in some people who use manual wheelchair. And it is identified that these loads are canceled by the assistive equipment which carries out overcoming these steps and gaps. Finally, it is expected that a accessibility of a wheelchair user's mobility might increase by using these equipment and effort of accessible environment. It is required the balance of these effort to make accessible environment.

Rights

Permission to publish has been given by TRANSED 2007