Living Independently

By Dr. Karen L. Frost, PhD, MBA

Did you know that wheelchair riders on transit buses are more likely to be injured on the wheelchair ramp than in a vehicle accident?  Did you know that when the ramp is deployed to an urban street or sidewalk in real life, it often exceeds the ADA maximum ramp slope?

Unfortunately, little is know about specific factors that contribute to ramp accidents.  The University of Louisville is undertaking a nationwide effort to improve access to public transit buses.  We have received funding from the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research to conduct a survey to study ramp-related problems experienced by wheelchair & scooter users who ride public transit buses.

BRT Ramped bus in Boulder

This survey is for those who can provide information about problems or injuries they may have experienced trying to access transit buses using a wheelchair ramp.  Wheelchair and scooter users, as well as their family members and personal aids may take the survey.  All responses are anonymous.

Our survey is located at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WheelchairRampSurvey.  After taking the survey, each person will be able to see a summary of responses from everyone who has participated.  To learn more about this research, or talk to the principal investigator, you can contact Karen Frost, PhD, University of Louisville at k.frost@louisville.edu.

Thanks in advance for your consideration of this request,

University of Louisville Research Team

Karen L. Frost, PhD, MBA
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering
iRAP Laboratory
University of Louisville
Room 110, Instructional Bldg.
500 South Preston Street
Louisville, KY 40202

Tele: 502.645.4734
Lab: 502.852.0279
Email: klfrost@mac.com

• Anonymous, nationwide effort
• Seeking wheelchair & scooter users 18 yrs & older
• Web-based survey takes 15-20 mins
• Investigating factors contributing to ramp incidents and injuries on public transit bus ramps
• Info will be used to develop ramp design guidelines and improve accessibility, usability and safety of bus ramps
• University of Louisville, IRB#: 12.0261

National Institute on Disability & Rehabilitation Research, Grant # H133G110074
Karen Frost, PhD k.frost@louisville.edu 502-852-0279
//www.surveymonkey.com/s/WheelchairRampSurvey

Around Colorado, Around the country, System Change bus, ramp, rtd, transportation

By Tim Wheat

Crowd at the public hearing

(Monday, October 3, 2011) I visited the RTD Public Hearing tonight just to listen to what my fellow Boulder residents had to say about the proposed service changes coming for next year. I listened to everyone and I heard some good ideas and some passionate appeals for RTD not to cut services

While I was listening to all that was said, I had the uneasy impression that RTD was not listening. The facilitator started the meeting by reinforcing a three-minute limit on speakers; however she went further to say that “we all want to save some of the evening.” That struck me as being cold. I believed that participants only wanted RTD to listen to them but the facilitator obviously did not want to be there or listen.

The only impact the hearing would have according to the hand-outs was that comments would be compiled for the RTD board meeting on Oct. 25. The facilitator did not explain the process and only said that she would “try to take good notes.” The local board representative was not there and although about five RTD administration staff were standing around, only the facilitator took any notes.

When asked about a Spanish interpreter, the facilitator did not answer. She explained to the crowd how there was supposed to be materials printed in Spanish, but it was not done and “marketing” had failed.

I didn’t say anything. But many people did. Some people were nervous and some were very personal. Two older citizens told how they did not have a history of bus ridership, but the DD bus rout had made them “lifelong” bus riders. One woman told about problems people with disabilities had with the Access-a-Ride system.

I can’t help but feel that RTD was there but they just did not listen.

System Change rtd, transportation