Wheelchair Passengers and Local Public Transport Vehicles: Perceptions of Safety and Comfort

Anders Wretstrand

Wheelchair Passengers and Local Public Transport Vehicles: Perceptions of Safety and Comfort

Transport and Roads

Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis (compilation)

Abstract

Eliciting wheelchair-seated passengers’ perspective of safety and comfort is both useful and mandatory, particularly for researchers, clinicians, transit authorities, and for operators during purchase and use of vehicle technologies in existing and planned future transport systems. Therefore, the overarching objective of this thesis was to delineate the question of safety and comfort as perceived by wheelchair-seated passengers using public transport road vehicles. That objective was achieved by rendering an integrated perspective from four different studies (Papers I-IV). The passengers studied have partaken in local trips in urban and semi-rural areas, while using special transport services (STS) and bus transit. Regional/interregional transports with coaches have not been studied. The nature of the research aimed to be descriptive, explorative, and explanatory, and the research approaches could be classified as quantitative, qualitative or a blend - characterized as triangulation - of the two. The results showed that from the inside, subjective perspective, safety and comfort as perceived by wheelchair-seated passengers in STS could be said to be satisfactory. However, it was also shown that incidents can occur and injuries can be sustained during normal STS driving and handling. Thus, from an outside, objective perspective, there is a strong need for improvements, both regarding better vehicle/ equipment/wheelchair technology and service procedures. Compared to STS, bus transit safety and comfort issues show both similarities and differences. Through the categorization into boarding/alighting, the ride as such, system effects discussions and introduction of theoretical concepts (from risk and ergonomic research), it was shown that perceived safety and comfort address a multitude of issues. These were labeled technology (assessed analytically by the participants), social relations (assessed experientially), as well as through use of public discourses of transport and disability policy.

Original language	English
Qualification	Doctor
Awarding Institution	Transport and Roads
Supervisors/Advisors	[unknown], [unknown], Supervisor, External person
Award date	2004 Jan 29
Publisher	Department of Technology and Society, Lund University
ISBN (Print)	91-628-5939-0
Publication status	Published - 2003

Bibliographical note

Defence details

Date: 2004-01-29
Time: 10:15
Place: Room V:A, V-building, John Ericssons väg 1, Lund Institute of Technology

External reviewer(s)

Name: Rosenblad, Elsa
Title: Professor
Affiliation: Chalmers Tekniska Högskola, Göteborg

---

Article: Paper IWretstrand, A., Petzäll, J., Ståhl, A. (2004). Safety as perceived by wheelchair-seated passengers in special transportation services. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 36(1), 3-11

Article: Paper IIWretstrand, A., Ståhl, A., Petzäll, J. (2003). The safety of passengers in wheelchairs in special transportation services studied with interviews and assessments. Technology and Disability, in press, reprinted with permission

Article: Paper IIIWretstrand, A. (2003). Rearwards or forwards seating positions: comfort and safety as perceived by wheelchair-seated bus passengers. Submitted for publication

Article: Paper IVWretstrand, A., Ståhl, A., Petzäll, J. (2003). Wheelchair users and public transit: eliciting ascriptions of comfort and safety. Submitted for publication

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Infrastructure Engineering

Free keywords

Road transport technology
Public transport
Bus
STS
Perception
Comfort
Wheelchair users
Safety
Vägtransportteknik
Care and help to handicapped
Handikappade
vård och rehabilitering

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Cite this

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title = "Wheelchair Passengers and Local Public Transport Vehicles: Perceptions of Safety and Comfort",

abstract = "Eliciting wheelchair-seated passengers{\textquoteright} perspective of safety and comfort is both useful and mandatory, particularly for researchers, clinicians, transit authorities, and for operators during purchase and use of vehicle technologies in existing and planned future transport systems. Therefore, the overarching objective of this thesis was to delineate the question of safety and comfort as perceived by wheelchair-seated passengers using public transport road vehicles. That objective was achieved by rendering an integrated perspective from four different studies (Papers I-IV). The passengers studied have partaken in local trips in urban and semi-rural areas, while using special transport services (STS) and bus transit. Regional/interregional transports with coaches have not been studied. The nature of the research aimed to be descriptive, explorative, and explanatory, and the research approaches could be classified as quantitative, qualitative or a blend - characterized as triangulation - of the two. The results showed that from the inside, subjective perspective, safety and comfort as perceived by wheelchair-seated passengers in STS could be said to be satisfactory. However, it was also shown that incidents can occur and injuries can be sustained during normal STS driving and handling. Thus, from an outside, objective perspective, there is a strong need for improvements, both regarding better vehicle/ equipment/wheelchair technology and service procedures. Compared to STS, bus transit safety and comfort issues show both similarities and differences. Through the categorization into boarding/alighting, the ride as such, system effects discussions and introduction of theoretical concepts (from risk and ergonomic research), it was shown that perceived safety and comfort address a multitude of issues. These were labeled technology (assessed analytically by the participants), social relations (assessed experientially), as well as through use of public discourses of transport and disability policy.",

keywords = "Road transport technology, Public transport, Bus, STS, Perception, Comfort, Wheelchair users, Safety, V{\"a}gtransportteknik, Care and help to handicapped, Handikappade, v{\aa}rd och rehabilitering",

author = "Anders Wretstrand",

note = "Defence details Date: 2004-01-29 Time: 10:15 Place: Room V:A, V-building, John Ericssons v{\"a}g 1, Lund Institute of Technology External reviewer(s) Name: Rosenblad, Elsa Title: Professor Affiliation: Chalmers Tekniska H{\"o}gskola, G{\"o}teborg --- Article: Paper IWretstrand, A., Petz{\"a}ll, J., St{\aa}hl, A. (2004). Safety as perceived by wheelchair-seated passengers in special transportation services. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 36(1), 3-11 Article: Paper IIWretstrand, A., St{\aa}hl, A., Petz{\"a}ll, J. (2003). The safety of passengers in wheelchairs in special transportation services studied with interviews and assessments. Technology and Disability, in press, reprinted with permission Article: Paper IIIWretstrand, A. (2003). Rearwards or forwards seating positions: comfort and safety as perceived by wheelchair-seated bus passengers. Submitted for publication Article: Paper IVWretstrand, A., St{\aa}hl, A., Petz{\"a}ll, J. (2003). Wheelchair users and public transit: eliciting ascriptions of comfort and safety. Submitted for publication",

year = "2003",

language = "English",

isbn = "91-628-5939-0",

series = "Bulletin - Lunds tekniska h{\"o}gskola, Institutionen f{\"o}r teknik och samh{\"a}lle, Lunds universitet",

publisher = "Department of Technology and Society, Lund University",

type = "Doctoral Thesis (compilation)",

school = "Transport and Roads",

}

TY - THES

T1 - Wheelchair Passengers and Local Public Transport Vehicles: Perceptions of Safety and Comfort

AU - Wretstrand, Anders

N1 - Defence details Date: 2004-01-29 Time: 10:15 Place: Room V:A, V-building, John Ericssons väg 1, Lund Institute of Technology External reviewer(s) Name: Rosenblad, Elsa Title: Professor Affiliation: Chalmers Tekniska Högskola, Göteborg --- Article: Paper IWretstrand, A., Petzäll, J., Ståhl, A. (2004). Safety as perceived by wheelchair-seated passengers in special transportation services. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 36(1), 3-11 Article: Paper IIWretstrand, A., Ståhl, A., Petzäll, J. (2003). The safety of passengers in wheelchairs in special transportation services studied with interviews and assessments. Technology and Disability, in press, reprinted with permission Article: Paper IIIWretstrand, A. (2003). Rearwards or forwards seating positions: comfort and safety as perceived by wheelchair-seated bus passengers. Submitted for publication Article: Paper IVWretstrand, A., Ståhl, A., Petzäll, J. (2003). Wheelchair users and public transit: eliciting ascriptions of comfort and safety. Submitted for publication

PY - 2003

Y1 - 2003

N2 - Eliciting wheelchair-seated passengers’ perspective of safety and comfort is both useful and mandatory, particularly for researchers, clinicians, transit authorities, and for operators during purchase and use of vehicle technologies in existing and planned future transport systems. Therefore, the overarching objective of this thesis was to delineate the question of safety and comfort as perceived by wheelchair-seated passengers using public transport road vehicles. That objective was achieved by rendering an integrated perspective from four different studies (Papers I-IV). The passengers studied have partaken in local trips in urban and semi-rural areas, while using special transport services (STS) and bus transit. Regional/interregional transports with coaches have not been studied. The nature of the research aimed to be descriptive, explorative, and explanatory, and the research approaches could be classified as quantitative, qualitative or a blend - characterized as triangulation - of the two. The results showed that from the inside, subjective perspective, safety and comfort as perceived by wheelchair-seated passengers in STS could be said to be satisfactory. However, it was also shown that incidents can occur and injuries can be sustained during normal STS driving and handling. Thus, from an outside, objective perspective, there is a strong need for improvements, both regarding better vehicle/ equipment/wheelchair technology and service procedures. Compared to STS, bus transit safety and comfort issues show both similarities and differences. Through the categorization into boarding/alighting, the ride as such, system effects discussions and introduction of theoretical concepts (from risk and ergonomic research), it was shown that perceived safety and comfort address a multitude of issues. These were labeled technology (assessed analytically by the participants), social relations (assessed experientially), as well as through use of public discourses of transport and disability policy.

AB - Eliciting wheelchair-seated passengers’ perspective of safety and comfort is both useful and mandatory, particularly for researchers, clinicians, transit authorities, and for operators during purchase and use of vehicle technologies in existing and planned future transport systems. Therefore, the overarching objective of this thesis was to delineate the question of safety and comfort as perceived by wheelchair-seated passengers using public transport road vehicles. That objective was achieved by rendering an integrated perspective from four different studies (Papers I-IV). The passengers studied have partaken in local trips in urban and semi-rural areas, while using special transport services (STS) and bus transit. Regional/interregional transports with coaches have not been studied. The nature of the research aimed to be descriptive, explorative, and explanatory, and the research approaches could be classified as quantitative, qualitative or a blend - characterized as triangulation - of the two. The results showed that from the inside, subjective perspective, safety and comfort as perceived by wheelchair-seated passengers in STS could be said to be satisfactory. However, it was also shown that incidents can occur and injuries can be sustained during normal STS driving and handling. Thus, from an outside, objective perspective, there is a strong need for improvements, both regarding better vehicle/ equipment/wheelchair technology and service procedures. Compared to STS, bus transit safety and comfort issues show both similarities and differences. Through the categorization into boarding/alighting, the ride as such, system effects discussions and introduction of theoretical concepts (from risk and ergonomic research), it was shown that perceived safety and comfort address a multitude of issues. These were labeled technology (assessed analytically by the participants), social relations (assessed experientially), as well as through use of public discourses of transport and disability policy.

KW - Road transport technology

KW - Public transport

KW - Bus

KW - STS

KW - Perception

KW - Comfort

KW - Wheelchair users

KW - Safety

KW - Vägtransportteknik

KW - Care and help to handicapped

KW - Handikappade

KW - vård och rehabilitering

M3 - Doctoral Thesis (compilation)

SN - 91-628-5939-0

T3 - Bulletin - Lunds tekniska högskola, Institutionen för teknik och samhälle, Lunds universitet

PB - Department of Technology and Society, Lund University

ER -

Wheelchair Passengers and Local Public Transport Vehicles: Perceptions of Safety and Comfort

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Free keywords

UN SDGs

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Cite this