Towards sustainable public Transport for disabled people in Nigerian cities

ABSTRACT The detrimental impacts of the poor public transport services in Nigeria suggest the need to investigate the mobility situations and livelihoods of disabled people in Nigeria. This paper focused on the tendency of the disabled people to be restricted to certain areas, travel in company of relatives that provides assistance where needed and expose to travel difficulties. Analysis reveals that, determinants of traveling in company of relatives differs by the extent or severity of the physical disability, travel environment, available modes, distance, purpose of travel and cost of travel. The paper also examined whether disabled people traveling in company of relatives are faced or involved in transport externalities. Findings shows that, immobility of disabled people in developing countries particularly Nigeria, have resultant effect on the general livelihoods of this group. This paper suggested the need to review and retool the operational pattern of public transportation services and the planning as well as implementation of friendly travel environmental policy. It also calls for an holistic approach towards the provision of sustainable mobility for the physically- challenged in developing countries- Nigeria