A Review on Disability-Inclusive Public Transportation: Current Barriers and Prospects

Abstract

People with disabilities face significant barriers in using public transport, limiting their access to healthcare, employment, education, and daily life activities. A comprehensive review of existing research critically identifies these barriers, analyzes efficient interventions, and uses modern technology to create inclusive public transport systems that empower people with disabilities and foster a more equitable society. The current review systematically identifies the key barriers and prospects of disability-inclusive public transportation. It also highlights the policy shortcomings, accessibility gaps, and current technological advancements to foster inclusivity and improve mobility needs for disabled individuals. Searching scientific databases Scopus and Web of Science yielded 1100 articles; 35 met the inclusion criteria. The selected studies were conducted in various countries, emphasizing the topic's geographical importance. Several studies in the last five years indicated the topic's growing interest and potential impact. The present study categorized the key barriers into five types: inaccessible infrastructure, information and communication, attitudinal, economic, and safety and security. Case studies from diverse geographical and social settings correlated the barriers with the satisfaction levels of people with disabilities. The case studies highlighted the critical problems disabled people face that should be considered while designing successful transportation systems and travel chains. The study also illustrates the key features of a successful transportation system for disabled people based on best practices adopted worldwide. The prospects of using advanced technology, such as machine learning and modern imagery techniques, are also discussed.