Factors Affecting Accessibility of Public Transportation for People Living with Disabilities: Evidence from Bahir Dar City Administration, Ethiopia

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to examine public transportation accessibility for people with disability. Survey research design specifically cross-sectional survey research design was used and quantitative research approach was adopted. The population of the study was people living with three types of disabilities: persons who are visually impaired, deaf and physically handicapped.  One hundred eighty three participants were used for the research. They were selected by using stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using close-ended questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and ordered probit model. The results showed that the magnitude of public transport accessibility for people with disability was generally low. More specifically, the mean scores for the dimensions of transport accessibility such as mobility, physical infrastructure and vehicle design, user information and guidelines availability, and regulatory systems were 2.05, 2.10, 1.69 and 2.1 respectively. Relatively speaking, public transport accessibility in relation to network connectivity had a moderate mean score of 2.97.Among the independent variables, network connectivity and income level of the disabled significantly determined accessibility. The result of the study showed that   people living with disability had benefitted from the public transportation system in the city because of poor and difficult accessibility of the transportation services. It is recommended that improvement should be made in relation to the mobility dimensions of accessibility, improve physical infrastructure and vehicle design, increase availability of user’s information and guidelines, and increase network connectivity and the manner the public transport system is regulated.