UTILIZATION OF ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS

Several general approaches have been taken in various communities in the United States to improve the mobility of transportation handicapped people. In some large as well as small cities, existing fixed-route bus systems have been modified to make them more accessible to transportation handicapped people. Other communities have implemented specialized door-to-door transportation services exclusively for handicapped people and, in some cases, other persons with limited resources for transportation. Still other communities have opted for individual subsidies to enable transportation handicapped persons and other disadvantaged people to travel by taxi at reduced fares. Programs have also been established in a few urban areas to train mentally retarded persons in the use of regular fixed-route bus systems. This paper presents data on the recent utilization of each of the above types of services and programs and discusses why the utilization so far has been exceedingly low in most cases. It also points out that more research is needed into handicapped people's desire for improved mobility and into the many other factors besides lack of accessible transportation that affect mobility.