A work-in-progress list of possible accommodations for transit and their advantages/disadvantages in implementation.
Designing accessible transit should be something all cities should strive for.
First draft, March 13, 2025, made off the top of my head.
Copyright 2025 Bradley Korth.
BUMP DOTS ON GROUND
These enable blind people to detect where a crosswalk is.
Advantages: tactile, no electricity
Disadvantages: does not express the nature of the intersection
TACTILE SIGNS ON CROSSWALKS
These enable blind people to understand the nature of a crosswalk (how many lanes, what type of lanes, etc.)
Advantages: tactile, pictograms are not language-specific
Disadvantages: differing standards can be confusing
AUDIBLE CROSSWALKS
These beep or play some other tone when the walk signal is on for a crosswalk. May say street names out loud.
Advantages: helpful to know when crosswalks are ready, helpful if a large vehicle is blocking sight to crosswalk
Disadvantages: not always obvious which direction is open, not deafblind accessible
VIBRATING CROSSWALK BUTTONS
Arrow buttons that vibrate when a crosswalk is ready to be crossed.
Advantages: with arrows, it's clear which crosswalk is ready to cross
Disadvantages: does not say which street is being crossed
BRAILLE SIGNAGE
6- or 8-cell writing system for tactile reading.
Advantages: deafblind accessible, quiet, can be read in the dark
Disadvantages: large amounts of information take up lots of space, language-specific, no pictograms, cannot be read from a distance
RAMPS
Incline used as an alternative to stairs.
Advantages: simple, doesn't need electricity, usable during a fire, less hazardous if someone falls
Disadvantages: takes more time to use, may require more physical effort, requires more horizontal space than stairs/elevator
ELEVATOR
Vertical transport device.
Advantages: requires little effort to use, takes up less space than stairs
Disadvantages: not usable in a fire escape, can break down, may have to wait a while
PUBLIC BATHROOM BUILDINGS
Buildings outside near sidewalks meant specifically for public bathrooms, not portable toilets.
Advantages: great for unexpected need to go, supplements lack of bathrooms, usable at night when businesses are closed
Disadvantages: may be redundant depending on location
LARGE SINGLE-PERSON BATHROOMS
Single-person bathrooms with enough space for wheelchairs and adult diaper changing tables.
Advantages: more accessible to incontinent people, people in wheelchairs, not gender-specific
Disadvantages: takes up space
SIGN LANGUAGE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sign language announcements on public transit for when something is out of the ordinary.
Advantages: deaf-accessible, helpful for when signage cannot be quickly made
Disadvantages: may be difficult to find someone who knows sign language, only one language, not deafblind accessible
INDOOR WAITING AREAS
Waiting areas indoors for trains or buses.
Advantages: sheltered from cold/hot weather and thunderstorms, may have bathrooms or electrical outlets
Disadvantages: more difficult to implement than outdoor areas, takes up more space
GUIDE DOG RELIEF AREAS
Small grassy areas for guide dogs to use the bathroom.
Advantages: more sanitary setup for guide dogs
Disadvantages: takes up space
SIGNAGE IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Signs in multiple languages.
Advantages: helpful when serving an area likely to need multiple languages
Disadvantages: more difficult to implement in Braille, takes up extra space on the page, translations may differ
ANNOUNCEMENTS IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Audible announcements made in multiple languages.
Advantages: helpful when serving an area likely to need multiple languages, blind-accessible
Disadvantages: Takes much more time to include another language, translations may differ, not deaf-accessible unless sign language
PLAIN TEXT DOCUMENTS
Documents made without formatting, just text. May be for transit websites, maps, or other documentation.
Advantages: deafblind-accessible, text can be copied/edited/pasted easily, takes little storage space, good for dial-up Internet users
Disadvantages: Cannot contain pictures or diagrams, communicative formatting might be lost
TACTILE MAPS
Embossed maps that can be felt
Advantages: deafblind-accessible, allows blind people to better understand their spatial environment
Disadvantages: More difficult to implement
PARATRANSIT SERVICES
Personalized public transit services for disabled people.
Advantages: can be as flexible like car travel without requiring someone else that individual knows, wheelchair accessible
Disadvantages: schedules have to be made in advance, takes paperwork to set up, may not be useful for tourists
FREE FARE
Public transit that can be used without paying.
Advantages: no need to collect/enforce payment, lack of money or method to pay doesn't hinder others, doesn't take extra time
Disadvantages: not feasible for plane travel or for long-distance train travel
PICTURE SIGNS
Signs that use pictures alongside or instead of text.
Advantages: fewer language barriers, sometimes helpful for clarity
Disadvantages: not blind-accessible, may take up additional space
COLORLESS CODING
Diagrams or legends that use patterns or shapes instead of colors to denote differences
Advantages: color-blind-accessible
Disadvantages: may be difficult to use in place of many colors, patterns might require more space to be perceived
LARGE TEXT OR PICTURES
Pictures or text that are larger than necessary to see with normal vision.
Advantages: can be read from a distance, low-vision-accessible
Disadvantages: takes up extra space on the sign
STATION AMBASSADORS
Transit workers at a station that can provide information.
Advantages: helpful source of information when things are confusing
Disadvantages: may be unnecessary at some stations
SEPARATED BIKE PATHS
Bike paths that are not directly adjacent to roads for automobiles.
Advantages: safer to use, promotes bike usage
Disadvantages: takes up extra space
UNDERGROUND PARKING
Underground parking for automobiles.
Advantages: takes up less horizontal space, may provide shelter from elements
Disadvantages: more difficult to implement, low clearance
EMERGENCY CALL BOXES
Call boxes at stations with buttons to press to alert police.
Advantages: Easier way to alert police if near it, works even if your cellphone has no batteries
Disadvantages: Have to be in a certain place to use it, not deaf-accessible unless TTY/video call is used
GRADE-SEPARATED CROSSING
Crossings that separate an intersection vertically, such that one directional flow is on top of the other
Advantages: prevents collisions, great for when different modes of transit cross each other
Disadvantages: more difficult to use as an intersection to turn, more difficult to implement, low clearance
CAR FREE STREET
Street that prevents cars from driving on it. Might allow emergency or delivery vehicles.
Advantages: healthier air, safer street, more interesting/social street, promotes other uses of transit, takes up less space
Disadvantages: not feasible to implement everywhere, may be difficult for those who have trouble walking but don't use wheelchairs
BOLLARDS
Vertical poles meant to protect cyclists, pedestrians, or buildings from vehicle crashes.
Advantages: protects more vulnerable people, promotes bike usage
Disadvantages: may be difficult when moving other large objects or for wheelchair users, if one has to go through the barrier
RESTAURANTS AND VENDING MACHINES AT STATIONS
Restaurants and vending machines at or near stations.
Advantages: can eat at transfer points or while waiting, easy to get a quick snack
Disadvantages: may encourage others to eat or drink on transit (possible rule conflict), vending machines don't always accept cards
AUDIO DESCRIPTION BUTTONS
Buttons to read signage aloud or explain surroundings.
Advantages: blind-accessible
Disadvantages: not deafblind-accessible, sound might be distracting to others
DIGITAL SIGNAGE
Digital signs that update periodically.
Advantages: deaf-accessible, helpful to look back at as reference
Disadvantages: Not blind-accessible unless there is a Braille screen reader
BATHROOMS ON BOARD
Bathrooms on buses/trains/planes.
Advantages: allows for longer-distance travel, helpful for more urgent needs
Disadvantages: Small bathrooms might be hard for wheelchair users or to change adult diapers, not helpful for short-distance travel, may run out of water
LEG ROOM
Extra leg room for seats.
Advantages: more accessible for tall people
Disadvantages: takes up space