Essential Accessibility Information About Travel Chains for Everyone

Accessible travel for all passengers is considered a fundamental right in Europe, addressing both physical and digital accessibility needs. Public transportation must cater to a diverse range of passengers with varying physical conditions, cognitive abilities, and cultural backgrounds. The European Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy (2020) underscores the necessity of making mobility accessible and affordable for all, including better connectivity for rural and remote regions. This study examines the importance of considering universal design (UD) in public transport, emphasizing the need for inclusive solutions that benefit as many passengers as possible without requiring specialized adaptations. Research material on the effect of UD measures in accessible travel chains was collected during the planning and implementation phases of the travel chain. The usability and content of travel information sources related to accessibility were examined in these phases. The key findings highlight significant travel chain accessibility challenges in both digital and physical aspects. The planning phase findings show that the digital information about infrastructure accessibility was fragmented, creating difficulties for passengers with low digital literacy to identify, book, purchase, and obtain tickets for accessible transport. The implementation phase revealed inadequately designed physical environments, a lack of multi-sensory guidance, and gaps in the provided digital information. Various accessibility challenges in the physical environment and insufficient digital accessibility information prevent a seamless travel experience for persons with disabilities. While the built environment was initially designed using UD principles, maintenance and functionality have deteriorated over time. Providing accurate digital information about the functionality of infrastructure in advance could enable passengers to make more suitable route choices.