Accessibility public transport for the Amsterdam region
Client: AGV-Movares
The Municipalities of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam region want to improve the accessibility of public transport. Therefore they commissioned AGV consultants in mobility to formulate a policy and action plan on Accessibility of Public Transport for the Municipality of Amsterdam and region municipalities.
In these plans the ambitions for an accessible public transport in and around Amsterdam is laid down, for the short term (until 2010) and for the long term (2030).
As part of this project P5 have carried out a usability evaluation on the low floor tram and bus in Amsterdam, to get a clearer picture of the limits of accessibility for persons with reduced mobility. This was done by observing and interviewing users of wheelchairs and electric scooters, persons with walking impairments and persons with vision impairments when boarding the tram and bus. A mock-up platform was used to simulate the various gaps between platform and vehicle.
For persons with reduced mobility a further statement is made for the horizontal and vertical gap between platform and means of transport, which makes it possible for these groups to access and exit trams and buses.
Next to this several proposals for improvements are made for the interior of trams and buses, regarding seats, moving space, handgrips and controls.