2371 - ALL Aboard - Universal Access for Small Ferries and Tour Boats

Publication date: June 2018Source: Journal of Transport & Health, Volume 9, SupplementAuthor(s): David LembergBackgroundThe US Census American Community Survey defines Ambulatory Disabled as those people over the age of five who have serious difficulties walking or climbing stairs. The 2010 census estimates there are approximately 30.6 million Americans with Ambulatory Disabilities. The Center for Disease Control estimates 2.2 million wheelchair users in the US, leaving 28.4 million Americans who are Ambulatory Disabled, but don’t use a wheelchair.I recently became a member of this group after a stroke impaired my left side. After a year of rehabilitation, I can walk with the assistance of a single cane, but have less utility of my left arm. Six months ago, I had recovered enough mobility to travel. One activity my wife and I enjoy is environmental tourism observing rare and unique species of flora and fauna. This has included whale, dolphin, and bird watching tours. The tours themselves were enjoyable, educational, and generally not too strenuous for the mobility impaired. One problem common to all of these tours was difficulty boarding and disembarking the boats used in the tours or small ferries used to get to the tour destination.Current PracticeEmbarkation gangways for small tour boats and ferries often consist of portable or permanent stairways that take the passenger up or down to a level that they can step across on or off the boat. Some adjustment may be needed for...
Source: Journal of Transport and Health - Category: Occupational Health Source Type: research