Health by Design Works to Expand Transit Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities

On Friday November 13 Sarah Chestnut, INARF's Public Policy Coordinator, attended the First-Mile, Last-Mile Connections to Transit workshop offered by Health by Design, a coalition that works to ensure that communities throughout Indiana have neighborhoods, public spaces and transportation infrastructure that promotes physical activity and healthy living. The workshop focused on ensuring safe and accessible “first mile-last mile” connections to fixed-route transit service.

During the workshop, participants learned how to examine the safety and accessibility features of fixed-route bus stops and the pedestrian infrastructure that connects to them. Participants spent their afternoon riding the bus to fixed-route bus stops around Indianapolis and completing Bus Stop Accessibility Assessments. Assessments focused on the accessibility of the bus stop, the adjacent sidewalk, and nearby intersections and crosswalks. Participants noted any physical barriers individuals with disabilities might face such as objects obstructing the sidewalk, cracks in the sidewalk, and lack of curb cuts and warning strips at intersections. The assessors also documented intersections lacking pedestrian pushbuttons, audible tones at crosswalks, and braille on the signage. The information collected during the assessments will be compiled into a report that will be provided to the City of Indianapolis to support Health by Design’s continuing efforts to improve transit accessibility throughout the city. Health by Design would like to develop similar workshops and fixed-route transit assessment initiatives around the state. 

INARF applauds Health by Design’s ongoing advocacy for initiatives throughout the state that promote physical activity and healthy living. We appreciate the organization’s efforts to increase transit options and accessibility for individuals with disabilities. 

For more information about the initiatives of Health by Design, click here. If you are interested in participating in the Health by Design coalition or holding a similar workshop in your city, contact Addison Pollock, Coordinator of the Indiana Citizens’ Alliance for Transit at Health by Design.