Comments on: the special button is not enough http://www.jon22.net/the-special-button-is-not-enough/ The Website of Jonathan Dobres Tue, 27 Sep 2011 03:58:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Transitdesign http://www.jon22.net/the-special-button-is-not-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-2528 Transitdesign Sun, 29 Apr 2007 03:31:43 +0000 http://www.jon22.net/the-special-button-is-not-enough/#comment-2528 You've touched on critically important and often overlooked reality: design matters and effects our sense of comfort, confidence and control. The lifts used for Type VII's were responses to a legal requirement for access...little thought was given to the customer's experience. Likewise, the low-floor Type VIII's could be so much more user friendly for everyone. Ever try reading the line map over the door while sitting across from it? Ever watch an under 5'6" person try to reach the bars overhead to steady themselves. Both are next to impossible and represent simple examples where the user wasn't involved in the car design in a systematic and ongoing process throughout the procurement process. Likewise, why isn't the trolley floor completely level with the platforms? After all, Portland OR, Pheonix AZ, many airports, and countless other transit systems around the world do it. They've all discovered that steps increase loading times, introduce trip/fall hazards and consume valuable interior floor space. Its really important for everyone to understand that disability and variation is the norm for humans, increasing steadily as we age. For instance the top five adult disabling conditions are heart disease, arthiritis, respitory conditions, back problems, and diabetes. Not one of those are visible yet each can have a dramatic impact on a person's life. They are more or less disabled by the environments and objects that they interact with. Design has so much power but few US transit agencies recognize this. Fewer still have changed their procurement and design process to involve users and embrace human centered design. You’ve touched on critically important and often overlooked reality: design matters and effects our sense of comfort, confidence and control. The lifts used for Type VII’s were responses to a legal requirement for access…little thought was given to the customer’s experience. Likewise, the low-floor Type VIII’s could be so much more user friendly for everyone. Ever try reading the line map over the door while sitting across from it? Ever watch an under 5’6″ person try to reach the bars overhead to steady themselves. Both are next to impossible and represent simple examples where the user wasn’t involved in the car design in a systematic and ongoing process throughout the procurement process. Likewise, why isn’t the trolley floor completely level with the platforms? After all, Portland OR, Pheonix AZ, many airports, and countless other transit systems around the world do it. They’ve all discovered that steps increase loading times, introduce trip/fall hazards and consume valuable interior floor space.

Its really important for everyone to understand that disability and variation is the norm for humans, increasing steadily as we age. For instance the top five adult disabling conditions are heart disease, arthiritis, respitory conditions, back problems, and diabetes. Not one of those are visible yet each can have a dramatic impact on a person’s life. They are more or less disabled by the environments and objects that they interact with. Design has so much power but few US transit agencies recognize this. Fewer still have changed their procurement and design process to involve users and embrace human centered design.

]]> By: Train Mon! http://www.jon22.net/the-special-button-is-not-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-2208 Train Mon! Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:32:54 +0000 http://www.jon22.net/the-special-button-is-not-enough/#comment-2208 Wheelchair-bound (and other mobile unit-bound) patrons should not have to rely on the "special" button in order to alert a train operator or bus operator to his/her stop--the operatot should <b>remember</b> where he/she wanted to get off. The button is just a <i>reminder</i>. Trust me, as someone who used to regularly drive buses, operating trains or buses is a fairly mindless process: move forward-stop-unload-load-move forward-stop-unload-load... adding "remember to let the wheelchair passenger off at stop X" to the short list of things on your mind isn't that hard! And if one can't remember... pad and paper! Wheelchair-bound (and other mobile unit-bound) patrons should not have to rely on the “special” button in order to alert a train operator or bus operator to his/her stop–the operatot should remember where he/she wanted to get off. The button is just a reminder. Trust me, as someone who used to regularly drive buses, operating trains or buses is a fairly mindless process: move forward-stop-unload-load-move forward-stop-unload-load… adding “remember to let the wheelchair passenger off at stop X” to the short list of things on your mind isn’t that hard! And if one can’t remember… pad and paper!

]]> By: GDeeeeZL http://www.jon22.net/the-special-button-is-not-enough/comment-page-1/#comment-2195 GDeeeeZL Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:11:31 +0000 http://www.jon22.net/the-special-button-is-not-enough/#comment-2195 I said it once before on your site when you commented on the increase in T fares: handicap individuals should be provided with an alternative service..not the T. There is "The Ride" service but it appears to be insufficient as there remains a substantial sample of handicap people using the T. Clearly, as you describe JD, the T remains under par when catering to individuals with special needs. I say, get them off the T altogether, and provide an efficient, safe, and patron-friendly service exclusively for those who need extra care and consideration. I said it once before on your site when you commented on the increase in T fares: handicap individuals should be provided with an alternative service..not the T. There is “The Ride” service but it appears to be insufficient as there remains a substantial sample of handicap people using the T. Clearly, as you describe JD, the T remains under par when catering to individuals with special needs. I say, get them off the T altogether, and provide an efficient, safe, and patron-friendly service exclusively for those who need extra care and consideration.

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