The accessibility of both bus stops and the pedestrian environment around bus stops is an important component in meeting the needs of passengers. Easter Seals Project ACTION is addressing the challenge of eliminating barriers around bus stops by developing a toolkit for assessing bus stop accessibility and safety. This article highlights the toolkit's key features and describes how they were developed and tested. The toolkit is designed for staff at transit agencies and public works departments who are responsible for bus stop design and placement. The toolkit includes a list of common bus stop accessibility myths; principles of barrier-free design; a sample bus stop checklist for transit and public works agencies; a sample bus stop checklist for transportation advocates and the general public; guidelines for creating safe and accessible bus stops; recommendations for organizational relationships; technology options; and considerations for rural stops.
Abstract