BRT is expanding around the world

1. Challenges to inclusive Bus Rapid Transit: The role of public participationTom RickertAccess Exchange InternationalTRANSED2012/New Delhi

2. PURPOSETo promote effective & productive public participation, by passengers who benefit from inclusive design, in (1) BRT planning(2) BRToperation.

3. BRT is expanding around the world

5. In India alone . . .Pune, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Jaipur, Goa, Mumbai, Indore, Rajkot, Surat, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Vishakhapatnam, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Nagpur, Vijayawada, Kolkata

7. A common problem:Ignoring a needed access featureExample: stairs instead of ramps

8. A common problem:A feature that looks accessible but it isn’tExample: Excessive platform-to- bus gap

9. A common problem:Need to create an obstacle to address an unanticipated problemExample: Creating an obstacle in a ramped pedestrian tunnel to keep out motorcycles

10. A common problem:Lack of an overall vision for accessExample: Failure to promote pedestrian access away from stations or trunk lines.

11. Focus groups• 6-12 persons• for single categories (e.g., wheelchair users) or multiple categories (e.g., those with different disabilities)• periodic, or at start of process

12. Focus group in Mexico City

13. Advisory committees:for technical input• ongoing• input at appropriate levels into planning, design, pedestrian access, driver training, operations

14. Checking aprototype platform in San Francisco

15. Mexico City Metrobús: advisors and staff

16. Advisor and staff test tactile guideway on Mexico City Metrobús

17. Cali: Staff and advisors

18. Advisory committees:for political support• Disability groups should be natural allies.•Many other stakeholders: neighborhood groups, sidewalk vendors, informal transit operators

19. Passing a funding increase for transportation in San Francisco

20. Celebration in San Francisco

21. A valid process: proactiveNeed to take the initiative and direct/channel public participation instead of being scared and running from it.

22. Public meeting in Cali

23. Met him on TransMilenio

24. Invited him to a workshop

25. Customer input in El Salvador

26. A valid process: transparent• information & agendas available• accessible formats• transportation to meetings if required.

27. A valid process: fair to participants• equal opportunity for each person• not taken over by 1-2 strong participants• enforce mutual respect• everyone has opportunity to speak once before others speak a second time(put the rules of the process in writing!)

28. A valid process: taking responsibilities seriously• written expectations• show up on time, mutual respect, participate in training to increase quality of input

29. A valid process: trained to competency• All stakeholders need to understand the issues, timelines, and challenges.• Be trained in use of the system (e.g. boarding skills)An accessible BRT corridor may be the first opportunity in a disabled person’s life to actually board a public transit vehicle.

30. South Africa DoT Advisors Meeting

31. References • World Bank, 2006: Bus Rapid Transit Accessibility Guidelines • World Bank, 2009: Transit Access Training Toolkit • World Bank, 2010: Technical and operational challenges to inclusive Bus Rapid Transit all at http://go.worldbank.org/MQUMJCL1W1 • AEI, 2011: Universal access to Bus Rapid Transit: Design, operation, and working with the community at tom@globalride-sf.org.