Transportation and Disabilities: Challenges and Opportunities

A special issue of Disabilities (ISSN 2673-7272).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 65

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
2. Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, QC G1M 2S8, Canada
Interests: wheelchairs; assistive technology; social participation; environmental factors; participatory research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail
Guest Editor
1. School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
2. Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, QC G1M 2S8, Canada
Interests: mobility; assistive technology; physical activity; social participation; transportation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Kerpape Rehabilitation Center, 56270 Ploemeur, France
2. CoWork’HIT Innovation Center, 56270 Ploemeur, France
3. Lab-STICC, Université de Bretagne-Sud, 561000 Lorient, France
Interests: innovation; empowerment; accessibility; assistive technology; 3D printing; digital fabrication; Rehab Lab

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Community mobility, defined as locomotion in environments outside the home, is a fundamental aspect of social participation. Various modes of transportation (e.g., cars, buses, taxis, trains, tramways, metros) facilitate community mobility. However, people with disabilities continually face significant barriers to transportation. These barriers are not limited to physical accessibility, but also include sensory, cognitive, and communication-related obstacles. Traditional transportation services commonly fail to accommodate the diverse needs of people with disabilities, which can have a negative impact on autonomy, employment opportunities, and overall quality of life.

This Special Issue explores innovative transportation solutions that promote accessibility and inclusion. From adapted transport services to autonomous vehicles, digital navigation aids, and training programs for using regular transit systems, numerous emerging approaches have the potential to transform community mobility for persons with disabilities. Within a disability perspective, we invite researchers to contribute original studies that address transportation challenges faced by people with any kind of disabilities, development of solutions that can facilitate mobility, or assessment of those solutions. By bringing together interdisciplinary perspectives, this Special Issue aims to advance knowledge and foster evidence-based strategies that enhance transportation services for people with disabilities. We welcome submissions from diverse fields, including transportation studies, urban planning, rehabilitation sciences, disability studies, engineering, and policy research.

Prof. Dr. François Routhier
Dr. Krista L. Best
Dr. Willy Allègre
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • community mobility
  • transportation
  • access
  • inclusive
  • disability

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

35 pages, 816 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Accessibility in Philippine Public Bus Systems: Addressing the Needs of Persons with Disabilities
by Ma. Janice J. Gumasing, Timothy Ray P. Del Castillo, Antoine Gabriel L. Palermo, Janred Thien G. Tabino and Josiah T. Gatchalian
Disabilities 2025, 5(2), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities5020045 (registering DOI) - 30 Apr 2025
Abstract
This study examines strategies to enhance transport inclusivity and passenger satisfaction for persons with disabilities in public bus systems in the Philippines. Drawing on data collected through an online questionnaire from 396 persons with disabilities who responded across various regions in the country, [...] Read more.
This study examines strategies to enhance transport inclusivity and passenger satisfaction for persons with disabilities in public bus systems in the Philippines. Drawing on data collected through an online questionnaire from 396 persons with disabilities who responded across various regions in the country, this study investigates eight key factors affecting satisfaction: vehicle design, diverse seating options, sensory considerations, assistance services, safety measures, subsidies/discounts, accessibility, and communication and information quality. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the hypothesized relationships between these variables, passenger satisfaction, and intention to reuse public transport. The SEM results revealed that accessibility (β = 0.359, p = 0.005), vehicle design (β = 0.248, p < 0.001), diverse seating options (β = 0.485, p < 0.001), safety measures (β = 0.3867, p = 0.001), and subsidies/discounts (β = 0.447, p < 0.001) significantly influenced passenger satisfaction. In turn, satisfaction had a strong positive effect on the future intention to use public transport (β = 0.760, p < 0.001). However, sensory considerations (β = 0.163, p = 0.225), assistance (β = 0.133, p = 0.519), and communication and information quality (β = 0.171, p = 0.345) were not statistically significant. The model demonstrated a good fit (chi-square/df = 4.03; SRMR = 0.078; NFI = 0.956), supporting the robustness of the proposed framework. These findings suggest that design-centered improvements and subsidies/discounts are critical to inclusive transport experiences, while overreliance on assistance may not guarantee satisfaction. This study recommends promoting autonomy through universal design, enhancing digital and physical accessibility, and increasing public awareness. These insights are intended to guide policymakers and transit authorities in creating a more inclusive, equitable, and user-driven transportation system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transportation and Disabilities: Challenges and Opportunities)
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