Travelling by urban public transport: exploration of usability problems in a travel chain perspective

ISSN： 1103-8128

Source： Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, Vol.11, Iss.2, 2004-06, pp. : 78-89

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Abstract

Travelling is an important precondition for other occupations, and to support travelling for people with functional limitations in-depth information about usability problems in urban public transport is needed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore usability problems in public transport in a travel chain perspective focusing on the physical environment and inherent aspects of it. Service Route travellers were contacted on board buses and a strategic sample of 20 persons participated in focus group interviews. The participants were used to travelling but the results demonstrated that they faced a broad range of usability problems when travelling. By analysing the usability problems in a travel chain perspective, several aspects of the personal, environmental, and occupational components in usability problems were elucidated. The results provide a structure for further analysis of usability problems in urban public transport, in research as well as in practice. Knowledge about the usability problems different groups of people experience when travelling increases knowledge of the environmental impact on occupational performance and how to design supportive traffic environments for people with functional limitations.