ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses urban planning and transportation policy shape the choices that are available and the costs and benefits of each mode. It reviews the scope of accessible public transportation including access to services, operating policies, traditional accessibility provisions, and universal design approaches. Universal design offers a promising alternative to conventional accessible design in transportation, since it improves usability for everyone, not just people with disabilities. The concept of transportation dependency masks an important consideration in public transportation, the impact of improved services on the entire population of a region. Most public transportation scheduling and route planning puts an emphasis on travel to and from work destinations. The importance of accessible transportation in the lives of people with disabilities and seniors has increased the need for more innovative universal design solutions and better knowledge about how and where to apply universal design in public transportation.
