%0 Journal Article
%T Comfort and safety as perceived by wheelchair-seated bus passengers
%J Transportation planning and technology
%D 2007
%A Wretstrand, Anders
%V 30
%N 2-3
%P 205-224
%X Wheelchair-seated passengers on European and Swedish urban transit buses can travel rearwards, resting against a bulkhead, without the use of tie-down equipment. However, users sometimes disapprove of being the only passengers who have to travel rearwards, and also unrestrained. In order to investigate comfort and safety as perceived by wheelchair-seated bus passengers riding either forwards or rearwards, an experimental field study was carried out. Participating subjects were 31 wheelchair users and a group of 44 ambulant passengers. Each subject made two consecutive, identical 15-minute trips, randomly beginning either forwards or backwards, and interviews were conducted after each trip. During the trips, three-axis bus motion was recorded. The concept of categorization was used as a theoretical background and basis for discussion of the comfort and safety constructs. The results indicated that while the majority preferred the forward-facing position regarding comfort issues, a minority felt that the level of perceived safety was better. Wheelchair-seated passengers were more positive towards the rearward position than the ambulant group.  <p> </p>  <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Informa - Taylor and Francis Group
%@ 0308-1060
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03081060701390890