Understanding Everyday Travel Experiences and Transportation Infrastructure Challenges of People with Disabilities in Denver, CO

Abstract

A common perception is that the transportation experiences of people with disabilities have improved dramatically since the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. Though much progress has been made, many aspects of the current transportation system still limit people with disabilities from traveling safely and efficiently. Moreover, transportation planning and design efforts consistently lack representation of people with disabilities. This research seeks to address this disconnect via semi-structured interviews with (i) 28 stakeholders who self-identify as having a disability; and (ii) 9 government officials whose work intersects with the supply of infrastructure regulated under the ADA. All interviewees reside or work in the Denver region in Colorado. One objective is to understand how attributes of transportation infrastructure affect the daily mobility of people with disabilities. A second is to comprehend how the programming and management of transportation assets affects navigation for people with disabilities. Through a thematic and content analysis of the interview corpus, we reveal the challenges faced by people with disabilities through hard infrastructure issues and the programming or management of transportation facilities. Together, these act to diminish the quality of mobility options for people with disabilities. When working to create a transportation network that is universally accessible, it is critical for planners and engineers to work with people with disabilities when considering the design needs of individuals with different types of disabilities.