Assessing accessibility barriers at public transport stops for people with disabilities: Study in Hungary

Public transport systems play an instrumental role in promoting mobility, independence and the equitable participation of all individuals in daily activities Despite accessibility having become a fundamental component within transport planning, a significant proportion of public transport systems continue to exhibit notable barriers, thus impeding the mobility of individuals with disabilities to a considerable extent. The present study employs a qualitative methodology to evaluate the accessibility of the public transport system in the city of Győr, Hungary. This evaluation is based on field study, photographic documentation, and a user survey, the latter of which was conducted to support the findings derived from the qualitative methods employed. The analysis identifies four main categories of accessibility barriers: pedestrian environment barriers, stop infrastructure barriers, transport-information barriers, and vehicle-boarding barriers. The findings indicate that inadequate pedestrian environments, poorly designed stops, insufficient tactile and auditory guidance, and difficulties in boarding vehicles significantly restrict accessibility for users with disabilities. This paper proposes practical recommendations and solutions that have the potential to enhance accessibility and ensure compliance with accessibility standards.