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Measuring spatial accessibility for wheelchair users: A case study in a Chinese campus.
Yizhe Huang1,2, Chaobo Shi1,2, Shujie Dong3
1School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo, China.
Plos One
|December 8, 2025
Summary
Campus accessibility for wheelchair users is crucial. This study found facility type and assistance significantly impact travel speed, highlighting the need for improved barrier-free designs to ensure spatial equity.
Area of Science:
- Urban Planning
- Accessibility Studies
- Mobility Research
Background:
- Barrier-free campus environments are vital for individuals with mobility impairments.
- Empirical research on spatial accessibility for wheelchair users on campuses is limited.
- Understanding wheelchair user travel characteristics is key to designing inclusive campus facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the travel characteristics of wheelchair users on campus.
- To guide the planning and design of barrier-free campus facilities.
- To extend pedestrian accessibility models for wheelchair users.
Main Methods:
- Recruited thirty students with wheelchair experience.
- Analyzed travel characteristics across various campus facilities.
- Applied decision tree regression to identify factors affecting travel speed.
- Extended pedestrian accessibility models using empirical results.
Main Results:
- Facility type and travel mode (assisted vs. unassisted) significantly impacted wheelchair user travel speed.
- Average travel speed was 1.03 m/s (assisted) vs. 0.67 m/s (unassisted).
- Unassisted users faced challenges with curb ramps steeper than 1:5.
- Accessibility visualization revealed spatial inequalities.
Conclusions:
- Barrier-free facility design and assistance significantly influence wheelchair user mobility.
- Existing campus accessibility shows spatial disparities.
- Upgrading facilities and optimizing destination allocation can enhance wheelchair accessibility.
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