Bridging the gap: Increasing transportation access through training and technology

Abstract

This chapter describes approaches designed to assist people who have physical, cognitive, or sensory disabilities so that they may find their way around a community, within an identified area (e.g., college campus or downtown district), or within a public transportation system. It includes individual approaches, such as travel training, and the role of currently available wayfinding technology used by all pedestrians, as well as specialized technologies that target specific needs or travel modes. Strategies to assist people with disabilities are discussed along a continuum from low–to high–tech. The chapter also highlights innovative public–transit applications and explores how wayfinding technology can be used as part of the travel–training process. Finally, the chapter outlines steps to bridge the access gap through integrated wayfinding approaches.