should provide pedestrian access to major needs and you understand the needs of BRT corridors and to feeder line service to BRT personnel. these corridors, it may take a lot more time 6) Remember that mistakes do occur in the to extend a network of accessible sidewalks best BRT systems and that opening day is to areas far from the BRT corridors. Try to not a good time to assess what the system encourage a long-term planning process for will be like a week or a month or a year later better sidewalks everywhere, alongside the when lessons that are learned can hopefully planning of the BRT system. (Sidewalks in be put into practice to improve the system. distant neighborhoods cannot easily be part Do not expect perfection on Day One, but of these plans, because a BRT system is do identify problems and share your findings built in a shorter time span than is required with the BRT management. For example, if to provide sidewalks throughout a city.) A bus drivers are stopping too far from the new BRT system can be a great beginning platform edge, request the BRT managers to to build a more accessible city. It should provide them with better training. serve as an example to be copied by others in future years and it should stimulate future 7) If you feel you will benefit from fast and accessibility improvements. accessible BRT service, then support those who also are promoting Bus Rapid 5) In addition to design issues, persons with Transit in your city. Passengers have a disabilities need to promote good training right to have their voice heard by planners of bus drivers and station fare collectors and and the media. Persons with disabilities security personnel, so that everyone knows have a right to join others in requesting the how to be helpful and when to be helpful to benefits that can come from fast, accessible, persons with different types of disabilities. and reliable public transport. Consider Make sure planners include special training contacting public officials, newspapers, radio so that bus drivers know how to dock their and TV stations, and social networks to add buses as close as possible to the station your voice to all the people who will benefit platforms. Offer to participate in training from Bus Rapid Transit in your community. sessions so that BRT staff understand your
should provide pedestrian access to major BRT corridors and to feeder line service to these corridors, it may take a lot more time to extend a network of accessible sidewalks to areas far from the BRT corridors. Try to encourage a long-term planning process for better sidewalks everywhere, alongside the planning of the BRT system. (Sidewalks in distant neighborhoods cannot easily be part of these plans, because a BRT system is built in a shorter time span than is required to provide sidewalks throughout a city.) A new BRT system can be a great beginning to build a more accessible city. It should serve as an example to be copied by others in future years and it should stimulate future accessibility improvements. 5) In addition to design issues, persons with disabilities need to promote good training of bus drivers and station fare collectors and security personnel, so that everyone knows how to be helpful and when to be helpful to persons with different types of disabilities. Make sure planners include special training so that bus drivers know how to dock their buses as close as possible to the station platforms. Offer to participate in training sessions so that BRT staff understand your needs and you understand the needs of BRT personnel. 6) Remember that mistakes do occur in the best BRT systems and that opening day is not a good time to assess what the system will be like a week or a month or a year later when lessons that are learned can hopefully be put into practice to improve the system. Do not expect perfection on Day One, but do identify problems and share your findings with the BRT management. For example, if bus drivers are stopping too far from the platform edge, request the BRT managers to provide them with better training. 7) If you feel you will benefit from fast and accessible BRT service, then support those who also are promoting Bus Rapid Transit in your city. Passengers have a right to have their voice heard by planners and the media. Persons with disabilities have a right to join others in requesting the benefits that can come from fast, accessible, and reliable public transport. Consider contacting public officials, newspapers, radio and TV stations, and social networks to add your voice to all the people who will benefit from Bus Rapid Transit in your community.
BRT_Challenges_9-10.docx