How to Improve Transit Accessibility

Over 13 million Americans face mobility challenges that limit their travel experience.

2 minute read

March 21, 2024, 11:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Close-up of person in wheelchair wearing jeans entering public bus on ramp.

romaset / Adobe Stock

Writing in Prism, Bianca Gonzales describes the work of the Disability Mobility Initiative, a program in Washington state that aims to draw attention to the needs of transit riders with disabilities. “Since its inception, the initiative has been compiling stories from non-drivers throughout the state and documenting them in the Transportation Access for Everyone StoryMap. It includes interviews with more than 270 non-drivers about the barriers they face when navigating their communities.”

The article points out that “According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 13.4 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 64 have self-reported travel-limiting disabilities. Only 1 in five of people within this group work full time or part time, while 3 out of 4 Americans without disabilities aged 18-64 work.”

Transit is a key factor in whether people with disabilities, the elderly, and other groups can access jobs, healthcare, and other amenities. “Pregnant women, both with and without disabilities, who rely on public transportation face challenges in accessing health care, which can lead to an increased risk of developmental disabilities for children as well as maternal mortality.”

According to a DMI report, “Transportation agencies should ensure transit connects riders to key destinations where medical services, education, and recreation are offered. They should coordinate between jurisdictions to reduce transfer wait times and develop and improve tools to help riders anticipate the arrival of their busing system and increase overall consistency.”

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Prism

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Black and white photos of camp made up of small 'earthquake shacks' in Dolores Park in 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees

More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

April 15, 2025 - Charles F. Bloszies

Looking out at trees on 4th Street in downtown Los Angeles, California.

LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism

After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.

5 hours ago - Torched

White and blue Sacramento regional transit bus with one bike on front bike rack.

Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras

The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.

5 hours ago - Streetsblog California

View of downtown Seattle with Space Needle and mountains in background

Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum

Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.

7 hours ago - Next City