Page 26 - 捷運技術 第57期

Journal of Rapid Transit System and Technology No.57
pp. 15-40, 2022 DOI 10.29670/JRTST.202210_(57).0002

Received May 27, 2019, accepted November 22, 2019, date of publication October 31, 2022

An Observation of Accessible Elevator Users
in Taipei MRT System

SHIHHSUAN HUANG , KAIKUO CHANG 2
1
1 Safety Division, Institute of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation and Communication 7 F,
240, Dunhua N. Road, Taipei City 10548, Taiwan, R.O.C.
2 Safety Division, Institute of Transportation, Ministry of Transportation and Communication
Corresponding authors: SHIHHSUAN HUANG, E-mail: andyhuang@iot.gov.tw

ABSTRACT

The accessible elevator is a vital piece of access-free equipment for people with
disabilities in public transportation stations. However, accessible elevators are built
based on the concept of universal design and viability for all users. Consequently,
people with disabilities sometimes may encounter difficulties and long waiting
times when trying to reach elevators. Some may question the sufficiency of
elevators in public transportation stations. In order to clarify the factors causing
elevator-waiting problems, an in-depth study regarding elevator user analysis is
needed. Therefore, this study conducted a field observation in the Taipei MRT
system in order to collect the characteristics and behavior patterns of elevator users’
usage behavior. In total, 604 elevator trips and 2,413 elevator users were observed
in ten elevators. The results of this study suggest that users using wheel chairs or
baby transports may encounter difficulties and wait longer when using elevators.
This is largely a result of a low level of courteous behavior. In situations where
courteous behavior is needed,users are only willing to let other users in need enter
elevators first in 24% of the occurrences. Moreover, several factors, including the
number of levels that an elevator serves and the location of the elevators, influence
the composition of elevator users and create distinct elevator-waiting patterns.
Operators of public transportation stations should clarify the key factors affecting
each station to propose management strategies for existing stations and design
guideline for new stations.

Keywords: Accessible Elevator, MRT, Universal Design, Logistics Regression