IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i15p9224-d873531.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Experimental Location of the Vertical Handrail to Improve the Accessibility of Wheelchair Passengers Boarding and Alighting at Metro Stations—A Pilot Study

Author

Listed:
  • Sebastian Seriani

    (Escuela de Ingeniería de Construcción y Transporte, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2362804, Chile)

  • Vicente Aprigliano Fernandes

    (Escuela de Ingeniería de Construcción y Transporte, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2362804, Chile)

  • Paola Moraga

    (Escuela de Ingeniería de Construcción y Transporte, Pontifica Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2362804, Chile)

  • Fabian Cortes

    (Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago de Chile 7620001, Chile)

Abstract

Acknowledging the possible impacts of the location of a vertical handrail on the accessibility of wheelchair passengers, this study explores different dimensions of the vertical handrail and elements of the internal space of a metro carriage and how they can impact the behaviour of passengers. For this purpose, simulation scenarios have been developed with different configurations of the location of the vertical handrail, which includes variables such as the number of passengers boarding and alighting and the type of relationship that exists between them. In this way, participants have been recruited for the simulation in a controlled environment, using a mock-up with characteristics and dimensions representing the space inside a metro carriage. The results show that the current location, that is, in the centre of the carriage, affects the accessibility of wheelchair users. Similarly, it has been observed that placing the handrail on one side of the train has positive effects on the accessibility of these users since the boarding time is considerably reduced. In addition, it has been shown that the relationship between passengers who hold on to the vertical handrail has an impact on the accessibility of wheelchair users. If passengers holding the handrail know each other, they will use less space inside the metro, and therefore, the boarding time is reduced. Finally, a series of recommendations have been proposed for future research, for example, carrying out new simulations with a more significant number of passengers, considering other types of disabilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastian Seriani & Vicente Aprigliano Fernandes & Paola Moraga & Fabian Cortes, 2022. "Experimental Location of the Vertical Handrail to Improve the Accessibility of Wheelchair Passengers Boarding and Alighting at Metro Stations—A Pilot Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-22, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9224-:d:873531
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/15/9224/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/15/9224/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Indre Grazuleviciute-Vileniske & Lina Seduikyte & Armanda Teixeira-Gomes & Ana Mendes & Anatolijs Borodinecs & Deimante Buzinskaite, 2020. "Aging, Living Environment, and Sustainability: What Should be Taken into Account?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Nattanon Luangboriboon & Sebastian Seriani & Taku Fujiyama, 2021. "The influence of the density inside a train carriage on passenger boarding rate," International Journal of Rail Transportation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(5), pages 445-460, September.
    3. Sebastian Seriani & Rodrigo Fernández & Constanza Oyanedel, 2021. "The impact of gap dimensions on passengers boarding and alighting using different mobility aids at railway stations by laboratory experiments," International Journal of Rail Transportation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(2), pages 186-202, March.
    4. Qu, Yunchao & Xiao, Yao & Liu, Hao & Yin, Haodong & Wu, Jianjun & Qu, Qiushi & Li, Daqing & Tang, Tao, 2019. "Analyzing crowd dynamic characteristics of boarding and alighting process in urban metro stations," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 526(C).
    5. Vivian W. Y. Tam & Ivan W. H. Fung & Y. T. Tsang & Leo Chan, 2018. "Development of a Universal Design-Based Guide for Handrails: An Empirical Study for Hong Kong Elderly," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-32, November.
    6. Fabiola Colmenero-Fonseca & Carlos Daigoro Fonce-Segura & Alejandro Guzmán-Ramírez & Mariana Flores-García, 2021. "Sustainable Public Transport Service Adapted for People with Disabilities and Reduced Mobility in the Municipality of León, Guanajuato, Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-16, July.
    7. Li, Zitong & Lo, S.M. & Ma, Jian & Luo, X.W., 2020. "A study on passengers’ alighting and boarding process at metro platform by computer simulation," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 840-854.
    8. Martens, Karel, 2018. "Ageing, impairments and travel: Priority setting for an inclusive transport system," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 122-130.
    9. Peña Cepeda, Elizabeth & Galilea, Patricia & Raveau, Sebastián, 2018. "How much do we value improvements on the accessibility to public transport for people with reduced mobility or disability?," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 445-452.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Sebastian Seriani & Jose Miguel Barriga & Alvaro Peña & Alejandra Valencia & Vicente Aprigliano & Lorena Jorquera & Hernan Pinto & Matías Valenzuela & Taku Fujiyama, 2022. "Analyzing the Effect of Crowds on Passenger Behavior Inside Urban Trains through Laboratory Experiments—A Pilot Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Paulo Aguayo & Sebastian Seriani & Jose Delpiano & Gonzalo Farias & Taku Fujiyama & Sergio A. Velastin, 2023. "Experimental Method to Estimate the Density of Passengers on Urban Railway Platforms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Matias Kulczewski & Andres Wilson & Sebastian Seriani & Taku Fujiyama, 2022. "Factorial Design with Simulation for the Optimization of the Level of Service in the Platform-Train Interface of Metro Stations—A Pilot Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-24, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zheng, Zhongxing & Wang, Heng & Liu, Weiming & Peng, Liru, 2023. "Toward real-time congestion measurement of passenger flow on platform screen doors based on surveillance videos analysis," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 612(C).
    2. Jillian M. Rickly & Nigel Halpern & Marcus Hansen & John Welsman, 2021. "Travelling with a Guide Dog: Experiences of People with Vision Impairment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-13, March.
    3. Muhammad Ahmad Al-Rashid & Muhammad Nadeem & Tiziana Campisi & Iftikhar Ahmad, 2023. "Exploring the Role of Socio-Demographic Characteristics on Gendered Social Exclusion: Empirical Evidence from Older Adults in Pakistan," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 847-862, October.
    4. Jin-Wook Lee, 2023. "The Future of Online Barrier-Free Open Space Cultural Experiences for People with Disabilities in the Post-COVID-19 Era," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Márquez, Luis & Pineda, Laura X. & Poveda, Juan C., 2022. "Mobility-impaired people’s preferences for a specialized paratransit service as BRT’s feeder: The role of autonomy, relatedness, and competence," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 172-185.
    6. Takumi Ito & Tsuyoshi Setoguchi & Takashi Miyauchi & Akira Ishii & Norihiro Watanabe, 2019. "Sustainable Downtown Development for the Tsunami-Prepared Urban Revitalization of Regional Coastal Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-23, February.
    7. Hörsting, Lena & Cleophas, Catherine, 2023. "Scheduling shared passenger and freight transport on a fixed infrastructure," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 306(3), pages 1158-1169.
    8. Yu, Chao & Li, Haiying & Xu, Xinyue & Liu, Jun, 2020. "Data-driven approach for solving the route choice problem with traveling backward behavior in congested metro systems," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    9. Liang, Jinpeng & Zang, Guangzhi & Liu, Haitao & Zheng, Jianfeng & Gao, Ziyou, 2023. "Reducing passenger waiting time in oversaturated metro lines with passenger flow control policy," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    10. Hyejin Yoon & Lesa Huber & Chulwon Kim, 2021. "Sustainable Aging and Leisure Behaviors: Do Leisure Activities Matter in Aging Well?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-12, February.
    11. Mihaela Ghența & Aniela Matei & Luise Mladen-Macovei & Maria Denisa Vasilescu & Elen-Silvana Bobârnat, 2021. "Sustainable Care and Factors Associated with Quality of Life among Older Beneficiaries of Social Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, February.
    12. Aleksejs Prozuments & Anatolijs Borodinecs & Guna Bebre & Diana Bajare, 2023. "A Review on Trombe Wall Technology Feasibility and Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, February.
    13. Elizabeth Wianto & Elty Sarvia & Chien-Hsu Chen, 2021. "Authoritative Parents and Dominant Children as the Center of Communication for Sustainable Healthy Aging," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-18, March.
    14. Bindu Panikkar & Qing Ren & Fosca Bechthold, 2023. "Transportation Justice in Vermont Communities of High Environmental Risk," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, January.
    15. Aleksejs Prozuments & Anatolijs Borodinecs & Diana Bajare, 2023. "Trombe Wall System’s Thermal Energy Output Analysis at a Factory Building," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-13, February.
    16. Giovanni Vecchio & Bryan Castillo & Rodrigo Villegas & Carolina Rojas Quezada & Stefan Steiniger & Juan Antonio Carrasco, 2023. "Elderly Walking Access to Street Markets in Chile: An Asset for Food Security in an Unequal Country," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-18, February.
    17. Yongchuan Li & Salwa Hanim Abdul-Rashid & Raja Ariffin Raja Ghazilla, 2022. "Design Methods for the Elderly in Web of Science, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure Databases: A Scientometric Analysis in CiteSpace," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, February.
    18. Ding, Heng & Di, Yunran & Zheng, Xiaoyan & Liu, Kai & Zhang, Weihua & Zheng, Lingling, 2021. "Passenger arrival distribution model and riding guidance on an urban rail transit platform," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 571(C).
    19. Baig, Farrukh & Zhang, Dong & Lee, Jaeyoung & Xu, Hongda, 2022. "Shaping inclusiveness of a transportation system: Factors affecting seat-yielding behavior of university students in public transportation," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 79-94.
    20. Yang Cao & Hao Wu & Hongbin Wang & Yawei Qu & Yan Zeng & Xiyu Mu, 2022. "How Do Block Built Environments Affect Daily Leisure Walking among the Elderly? A Empirical Study of Gaoyou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-22, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9224-:d:873531. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.