Connected and Automated Vehicle accessibility guide

As technology advances and new forms of public transport emerge, concerns have been raised about the impact this will have on people with disability. New technology has the potential to reduce inequalities and improve public transport accessibility for People With Disability (PWD). However, if this technology is not accessible, it may exacerbate existing issues and present new barriers to accessing public transport.

This project will develop guidance materials for developers of Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) and operators and providers of public transport to ensure people with disability are considered in the design and implementation of new technology.

Participants

• Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
• La Trobe University

Project background

The Whole Journey: A guide for thinking beyond compliance to create accessible public transport journeys (WJ Guide) was published by the Australian Government in 2018. The WJ Guide provides advice on how transport planners and providers, architects, engineers, builders, certifiers and all levels of government can work together with people with disability to make public transport more accessible.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts will be updating the WJ Guide to address changes to public transport service provision since it was developed in 2016 and 2017. New content will also be included following the reforms to the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (to be published in due course).

This provides two opportunities:

1. Provide new case examples to the WJ Guide. Technology develops fast; new case examples can be added and some of the current examples may need to be replaced or updated in order to keep inspiring companies to go beyond compliance.
2. Publish a guide for automated public transport to encourage manufacturers and operators to think about accessibility beyond just compliance, similar to the WJ Guide. Automated public transport currently primarily consists of automated shuttles of various forms, sizes and business models, but Advanced Air Mobility options are on the horizon.

This work will build on two previous iMOVE projects:

1. Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (DITRDCA) commissioned research from iMOVE on CAVs and the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (Transport Standards). La Trobe University’s Centre for Technology Infusion (CTI) conducted this research and produced a report on the barriers and opportunities for PWD as CAVs become more common.
2. The work the CTI has undertaken for the APEC Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) and the Intermodal and Intelligent Transport Systems Expert Group (IIEG) which Australia chairs. The IIEG’s main policy theme for 2023 is Improving accessibility and inclusivity through new and emerging transport technologies. Improving mobility for vulnerable groups through the use of new transport technologies also aligns with the TPTWG 2023 Work Plan’s Strategic Focus on Inclusive and Sustainable Transport and Embracing Technology and Innovation. The project also identified a number of high-level case examples from around the world in each of these areas. This framework and the examples will be discussed with stakeholders and substantiated further.

Project objectives

The objectives of this project are twofold, to:

1. Develop CAV accessibility guidelines that promote consensus and consistency in the service and vehicle design before formal standards come into place, based on the findings of project 3-014 Australia’s Public Transport Disability Standards and Connected and Automated Vehicles.
2. Update the Whole Journey Guide with new examples of emerging technologies that can improve public transport accessibility. These case examples should assure the relevance and inspiration levels of the WJ Guide.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!