Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Barrier-free outdoor environments: Older peoples' perceptions before and after implementation of legislative directives

Wennberg, Hanna LU ; Hydén, Christer LU and Ståhl, Agneta LU (2010) In Transport Policy 17(6). p.464-474
Abstract
An increased focus on international and national levels of society to meet the transportation needs of older people and people with disabilities is realized through legislation, directives and guidelines on accessibility. This paper examines effects of removing physical barriers according to current Swedish governmental accessibility directives on older peoples' perceptions of outdoor environments (usability) and on their mobility and perceived safety as pedestrians. This paper also focuses on municipal planners' views on the implementation of improved accessibility. A before-after study, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, is conducted. The results from the questionnaires show that older peoples' overall satisfaction with the... (More)
An increased focus on international and national levels of society to meet the transportation needs of older people and people with disabilities is realized through legislation, directives and guidelines on accessibility. This paper examines effects of removing physical barriers according to current Swedish governmental accessibility directives on older peoples' perceptions of outdoor environments (usability) and on their mobility and perceived safety as pedestrians. This paper also focuses on municipal planners' views on the implementation of improved accessibility. A before-after study, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, is conducted. The results from the questionnaires show that older peoples' overall satisfaction with the outdoor environment has increased after implementation: however no differences are found if physical barriers specifically are considered. Older peoples' mobility is also unchanged; nevertheless, fewer respondents are stating difficulties in walking due to barriers in the outdoor environments as reason to avoid outdoor mobility. Problems do remain after implementation, for example concerning safety/security-related issues and inaccessible entrances and indoor environments. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Mobility, Accessibility, Barrier-free design, Older people, Pedestrian, Usability
in
Transport Policy
volume
17
issue
6
pages
464 - 474
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000282712300012
  • scopus:77956172252
ISSN
1879-310X
DOI
10.1016/j.tranpol.2010.04.013
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
0558c1b8-c09e-472f-bf3d-1d9727932958 (old id 1721238)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:56:15
date last changed
2022-02-10 07:18:19
@article{0558c1b8-c09e-472f-bf3d-1d9727932958,
  abstract     = {{An increased focus on international and national levels of society to meet the transportation needs of older people and people with disabilities is realized through legislation, directives and guidelines on accessibility. This paper examines effects of removing physical barriers according to current Swedish governmental accessibility directives on older peoples' perceptions of outdoor environments (usability) and on their mobility and perceived safety as pedestrians. This paper also focuses on municipal planners' views on the implementation of improved accessibility. A before-after study, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, is conducted. The results from the questionnaires show that older peoples' overall satisfaction with the outdoor environment has increased after implementation: however no differences are found if physical barriers specifically are considered. Older peoples' mobility is also unchanged; nevertheless, fewer respondents are stating difficulties in walking due to barriers in the outdoor environments as reason to avoid outdoor mobility. Problems do remain after implementation, for example concerning safety/security-related issues and inaccessible entrances and indoor environments. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Wennberg, Hanna and Hydén, Christer and Ståhl, Agneta}},
  issn         = {{1879-310X}},
  keywords     = {{Mobility; Accessibility; Barrier-free design; Older people; Pedestrian; Usability}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{464--474}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Transport Policy}},
  title        = {{Barrier-free outdoor environments: Older peoples' perceptions before and after implementation of legislative directives}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2010.04.013}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.tranpol.2010.04.013}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}