1. Indicators for describing urban
public transport accessibility
Mediate prosjektet – gemensamma
tillgänglighetsindikatorer i Europa
Liv Øvstedal, SINTEF
Transportforum 2010 Linköping 2010-01-14

2. Agenda
The Mediate project
• Participants, objectives, key deliverables
(tools)
Process of identifying indicators
• Tasks, framework, terms
Accessibility indicators for urban PT
• What are the indicators, why & how
• Next steps
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3. Mediate Project
A Coordination and Support Action FP7:
Methodology for describing the accessibility
of transport in Europe
SINTEF (NO) Transport for London (UK)
(Coordinator)
POLIS (BE) IMOB, Hasselt University (BE)
AGE (BE) TIS.PT (PT)
Transport & Travel TIMENCO (BE)
Research (UK)
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4. Mediate objective
to contribute to the development of
inclusive urban transport systems with
better access for all citizens
through
the development of a set of tools to
help measure and improve accessibility
in public transport
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5. Mediate key deliverables
To establish a common European methodology for measuring and
improving accessibility to transport based on defining indicators,
identifying good practice and developing a self-assessment tool:
Set of indicators
Self-assessment tool
Portal on Accessibility www.aptie.eu
Good Practice Guide
End User Platform
Representing a broad range of passenger groups to provide input to Mediate
Define a strategy for the End User Platform to become a permanent forum
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6. Mediate Stakeholder Groups
End User Platform: 10 individuals and organisations
representing groups of people who encounter barriers to
using public transport in European cities
Working Groups: 20 local authorities and transport
providers representing European cities
Expert Group: 5 European experts in the field of public
transport accessibility
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7. Public transport Permanent End User
accessibility portal Platform
Data
collection
Validation
Indicators of tool at
2-3 sites
Good
practice
guide
Mediate stakeholders: End-user platform, local authorities, experts
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8. Indicators; what, why, who & how?
What is an indicator?
• Simplified expression representing a phenomenon Indexes
Indexes
(related to basic data), chosen to simplify and communicate
• Descriptive, measurable or estimated
• Express direction and tempo of development Indicators
Indicators
Why indicators?
Processed data
Processed data
• Points outs strengths and weaknesses (statistics etc.)
(statistics etc.)
• Mutual understanding of quality level between
stakeholders
Data, measures etc.
• Learning process, better insight Data, measures etc.
Who and how?
• City authorities ask for relevant data from stakeholders or invite all stakeholders
around table
• Public transport system at urban level needs to be defined
• May also be used for specific line, service, public transport operator etc.
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9. Process of identifying indicators
Review of previous initiatives (review report)
Workshop on important accessibility issues
(end-user platform, city representatives, experts)
Preliminary Questionnaire: Feedback on issues,
aspects, phrasing, scales, and prioritising
(end-user platform, city representatives, experts)
Common understanding of essential terms
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10. Framework (1)
Principles informing the selection and presentation of indicators
Encountering societal barriers produces disabilities
• Mediate focus on the situation for older people and disabled people, when
relevant prioritised before other passenger groups.
Urban public transport
• Regular service with scheduled timetable and stops
• Taxi and door-to-door services supplement regular public transport services
“Holistic approach”
• All modes, all elements of the travel chain (urban area)
• All phases of the planning & implementing process, improving through
subsequent planning cycles
• All relevant stakeholders
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11. Framework (2)
Improving through subsequent
planning cycles
(levels of development)
PLANNING
USER
NEEDS LEADERSHIP
EVALUATION POLICY
& EFFECTS ON PAPER
MEANS &
PERSONNEL
COMPLEMENTARY
ACTIONS
PROMOTION & VEHICLES &
PARTNERSHIPS
TRAVELING INFRASTRUCTURE Source:
INFORMATION
Bypad project
ACTIONS
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12. Framework (3)
Awareness that accessibility looks different from the view of different stakeholders
Confidence is essential for the traveller
Source: EN 13816
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13. PT accessibility indicator themes
• Accessibility policy & investments
• Service operations & standards
• Accessible information & ticketing systems
• Accessible vehicles & built environment
• Seamless travel (modal interoperability)
For each theme
- Key indicators
- Sub-indicators
- Detailed data collection (questionnaire)
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14. Key and sub-indicators
Theme A: Accessibility policy & investments (example)
Key indicators
A1 Accessibility plan: Current plan at urban level (yes/no)
A2 End-user involvement in all stages of policy delivery (qualitative
description)
A3 Integrated accessibility policy; integrated part for all policy & all
partners (qualitative description)
Sub-indicators (A1)
A1.1 Accessibility plan status: Updated formal or voluntary plan at
urban level (yes/no)
A1.2 Political commitment at local, regional and national level (both
national & local/either/no)
- Detailed indicator themes
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15. Indicator scales
Yes/no, %, qualitative description, policy approach
Policy approach (TQM):
Integrated: Consider all population groups, travel chain elements, and
delivery phases
System-oriented considering specific target groups or travel chain elements
through the policy circle: planning, actions, monitoring, evaluation
Isolated to specific groups, travel chain elements, modes or locations
Ad hoc: Sometimes included
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16. Contributions compared to
Nordic accessibility indicators
Mediate indicators Nordic indicators
- Urban level: Focus on insight, - National level: Monitoring,
learning, develop measures comparison, identify gaps
- Process and performance - Performance indicators
indicators (provider & customer) (provider)
- Indicate degree of improvement - Accessible: Yes / no
May contribute to harmonize the May contribute to Nordic coordination
understanding on European level
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17. Project timeline
2009
• Dec. 2008 Project Kick-off
• Mar. 2009 2nd Working Group Meeting
• Sep. 2009 3rd Working Group meeting
• Dec. 2009 – Feb. 2010 Final set of Indicators
2010
• Mar 2010 4th Working Group Meeting
• June 2010 Delivery of Self-assessment Tool
• Sep. 2010 Local Workshops
• Nov. 2010 Final Conference in London
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18. Thank you for your attention!
Key indicators are presented in appendix
More information:
Mediate: www.mediate-project.eu
Accessibility in public transport: www.aptie.eu
(www.accessiblepublictransportineurope.eu)
Liv Øvstedal
Liv.Ovstedal@sintef.no
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19. A. Accessibility policy & investment
A1 Accessibility plan: Current plan at urban level
(2 sub-indicators)
Yes/no
A2 End-user involvement at all stages in planning and
implementing process (4 sub-indicators)
Qualitative description
A3 Integrated accessibility policy for all issues and partners
involved (physical planning, maintenance, procurements,
qualifications, funding, involvement) (6 sub-indicators)
Qualitative description
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20. B. Service operations and standards
B1 Meeting user needs: Assistance, staff training, complaint
procedures, security (5 sub-indicators)
Qualitative description
B2 Accessibility maintenance: Plan, routines & monitoring to
ensure accessibility is maintained.
Yes / partly /ad hoc /no
B3 Fare policy & supplementing transport services:
Fare policies, affordability, door-to-door services
(2 sub-indicators)
Qualitative description
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21. C. Accessible information
& ticketing systems
C1 Accessible information: Multi-format and dynamic info
before and on trip: Travel info, disruptions, emergency &
accessibility info. Travel training (3 sub-indicators)
Integrated / system-oriented / isolated / ad hoc
C2 Simplified ticketing: Buying, validation etc.
Integrated / system-oriented / isolated / ad hoc
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22. D. Accessible vehicles & built environment
E. Seamless travel
D1 Accessible vehicles & built environment: Pedestrian
environment, platform and vehicle (3 sub-indicators)
Integrated / system-oriented / isolated / ad hoc
E1 Seamless travel: Integrated physical access, information &
ticketing throughout travel chain, independent of mode
and operator
Integrated / system-oriented / isolated / ad hoc
Report will be available at www.mediate-project.eu
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