“The bus is accessible, but how do you get to the bus”: First and last mile experiences of disabled transit riders

Abstract

To use public transit, riders must complete first and last mile trip segments. However, transportation planning measures of access to opportunity often assume that transit riders can complete first and last mile trips with ease. This paper contributes to the understanding of how disabled transit riders experience the first and last mile of public transit trips. Using a mobility justice framework, interviews with disabled transit riders reveal accessibility challenges along the first and last mile in Austin, TX and Seattle, WA. Participants in both Austin and Seattle faced myriad accessibility challenges along the first and last mile, indicating that transit network size and local politics did not influence travel experiences. Findings indicate disproportionate and intersectional barriers to accessing public transit in both cities, especially among female transit riders. I find that gender, social conditions, built environment quality, connectivity, and public engagement experiences influence access to transit for disabled people along the first and last mile. This work reveals how planners can better engage with disabled transit riders about their experiences and incorporate mobility justice goals to improve first and last mile accessibility.