Identifying Steps to Make Transportation More Accessible
The American Foundation for the Blind’s Project VISITOR study explored challenges and solutions to independent travel.
To be independent, people need reliable transportation. But without the ability to drive, people who are blind or have low vision have limited options. There are also other factors, such as safely getting around in unfamiliar places. Research shows that transportation is a major barrier for people with vision loss. But researchers at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) wanted to learn more so they could make recommendations for improvement. AFB’s Visually Impaired Seniors’ Independent Travel Opportunities and Resources (Project VISITOR), funded by Volkswagen Group of America, used an online survey and phone interviews to learn about challenges and solutions related to transportation for seniors with vision loss.
About AFB’s research on this.
There were two phases to the study. Phase One was an online survey of agencies serving seniors with vision loss in the United States. These agencies were in urban, exurban, and rural areas. In Phase Two, researchers interviewed 81 people age 55 and over who are blind or have low vision. They lived in urban, urban cluster, and rural areas across the United States. In both phases, participants described transportation use and barriers people who are blind or have low vision experience.
What did the researchers learn?
In Phase One, staff from 32 agencies in urban, exurban, and rural areas said that many older adults who are blind or have low vision lack transportation options. Only a few agency staff in urban and exurban areas said there were affordable transportation options. Less than half said transportation options were convenient. In rural areas, transportation options were even more limited or were not available at all. Responses in Phase Two were similar: The older adults who need transportation said there were few options or many barriers to using the transportation that is available. In both phases, participants said they were hopeful transportation options would improve in the future. They talked about driverless cars, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, and more demand for transportation options as the U.S. population ages. But older adults who are blind or low vision need better options now.
Why is this a problem?
A lack of transportation options limits people’s access to medical and rehabilitation services, maintaining social connections, and finding or keeping a job. It is not always easy for people who are blind or have low vision to navigate unfamiliar spaces. Public transportation may not be close enough to people’s homes or destinations. Paratransit services are generally limited, slow, and inconvenient, if they are available at all. Taxis are expensive, and although rideshare services are less expensive, not everyone has a smartphone or knows how to use the rideshare apps.
Who needs to take action to change this?
Policymakers at the national, state and local level, public transportation agencies and providers, mobility managers, researchers, automotive manufacturers, and advocates.
What changes does AFB recommend based on the research?
- Include people who are blind or have low vision in transportation planning such as advisory boards and task forces. Also ask for their feedback about transportation programs.
- Modernize paratransit and work toward more passenger-friendly policies and scheduling systems.
- Put consistent, coordinated policies in place at the local, state, and national level to provide services that can be used across different geographic areas.
- Make sure mobility managers understand the needs of people who are blind or low vision, which may include improving certification programs.
- Give mobility managers the resources they need to meet the needs of people who are blind or low vision.
- Expand travel training to all transportation systems and promote coordination with orientation and mobility (O&M) services.
- Design self-driving vehicles with accessible features, such as non-visual commands and speech output.
- Invest in research that identifies the best transportation solutions to meet the unique needs of people who are blind or have low vision. Include those people in the design of studies.
- Conduct a large, national study of many travel options to better understand the specific needs of people who are blind or have low vision. This information can help transportation providers, advocates, and policymakers make sure transportation services meet the needs of those with vision loss.
Glossary of Terms
Accessible: A product, service, or environment that is designed for people of all abilities to use.
Exurban: An area outside the suburbs that’s similar to the suburbs but usually more rural.
Mobility management: Coordination of many transportation providers to offer comprehensive service.
Orientation & Mobility (O&M): Travel skills for people who are blind or have low vision that help them know where they are and move around safely.
Paratransit: A service for people with disabilities who can’t use traditional transportation options.
Urban cluster: Cities with a lower population.
