Shared Mobility Services – An Accessibility Assessment from the Perspective of People with Disabilities

Shared on-demand mobility services and transport-related digital solutions emerge at an increasingly fast pace, changing the landscape of public transport. Shared mobility services are largely designed without considering the access needs of people with disabilities, putting these passengers at risk of exclusion. Recognising that accessibility is best addressed at the design stage and through direct participation of persons with disabilities, the objective of the present study was to explore disabled users’ views on these emerging mobility services. The present study is part of the EU-funded research project TRIPS (no. 875588), which evaluates digital mobility solutions and creates accessible alternatives through participatory approaches. This study draws on data from an online mobility survey that sampled disabled users’ mobility behaviour, experienced mobility barriers, attitudes towards assistive technology, and perceived accessibility of emerging mobility services. Results reflect the responses of 553 individuals with different types of disabilities from 21 European countries. We present 1) respondents’ views on accessibility, 2) use intention, and 3) suggestions for increasing accessibility regarding these shared mobility services: a) ride pooling, b) microtransit, c) motorbike taxis, d) robotaxis, f) e-scooter sharing, and g) bike sharing. Perceived accessibility and use intention were greatest for microtransit, robotaxis, and ride pooling across different disabilities. In contrast, motorbike taxis, e-scooter sharing and bike sharing were viewed as least accessible and as least attractive to use, especially by persons with physical, visual and multiple disabilities. Despite differences in perceived accessibility, none of the six mobility services would fulfil the access needs of disabled persons in their current form. Suggestions for increasing the accessibility of these services included a) an on-demand door-to-door service, b) an accessible booking app, c) real-time travel information, and d) the necessity of accommodating wheelchairs. The present study provides the first empirical assessment of the accessibility of emerging shared mobility services from the perspective of persons with disabilities in different European countries. Our findings highlight the need for improving both vehicles and service designs to cater for the access needs of persons with disabilities and provide policymakers and transport practitioners with recommendations for the design of accessible mobility solutions