The design of entrances of taxis for elderly and disabled passengers: an experimental study

This paper presents an experimental study with the aim of finding suitable dimensions of the entrances of cars used in taxi service for disabled people. Ambulant disabled people and wheelchair users who were entitled to travel with the special transportation service and were used to travel by taxi participated in the trials. An investigation of the taxi service showed that taxis transport both ambulant disabled people and people using wheelchairs, who can move from the wheelchair to a car seat. The disabled travellers found it difficult to enter and leave the cars due to the narrow doorways. The most difficult action was the lifting of their feet into and out of the cars. In the experimental study the subjects had to get into and out of a mock-up car where the entrance could be altered by changes to the width and height of the doorway, the height of the sill, the location of the seat and the angle to which the door opens. The registration was made by video-filming, observation and interviews. The actions and duration of the different phases during the entering and exiting were analysed from the video-films. The results show that much the same entrance dimensions are required both by people confined to wheelchairs and ambulant disabled people. The paper presents suitable dimensions for the front entrances of cars in order to suit people with mobility impairments.