Challenge

Raising awareness for the priority of diverse passengers on public transport with additional space requirements  

Methods

Service Safari, Interviews with non-abled people, Co creation workshop, prototype testing 

Outcome

A service concept of a disability awareness system for Dublin Bus including service video and pilot plan 

Impressions of my immersion as a wheelchair user in public transportation

Phase 1 · Discover

Service Safari

Over the course of five hours, our tem explored the local transport network by using a wheelchair to simulate reduced mobility.

While this method certainly cannot replicate the lived experience of people with disabilities, it offered me a valuable perspective and helped surface some of the physical and emotional barriers present in everyday journeys.

Using bus service as a wheelchair user

Using ticket machine as a wheelchair user

Empathy interviews

As a team, we have conducted 15 interviews with non-abled service users, as well as bus and tram drivers, to uncover recurring challenges in public transport from multiple perspectives.

Remote interview with non-abled service users

Research synthesis

We have identified themes through affinity mapping, one of them revealing consistent confusion over space prioritisation on buses.

Key Insight:
Many conflicts arise from unclear signals about who gets priority space in designated areas (e.g. between wheelchair users and buggy users).

Research synthesis · Affinity mapping 

Phase 2 · Develop

Ideation workshops

Two co-creation workshops with 24 participants helped explore possible solutions. Activities focused on sketching and discussion around our pre-defined How Might We questions.

Participants of ideation workshop

How might we ...

inform bus passengers on the variety of user priorities to enable better decision-making regarding the appropriate use of space?

When traveling by bus as a wheelchair user, there may not be enough space on the bus to board. The interviewees reported from their experience that it often happens that buggy users or people with heavy luggage block the area intended for people with physical disabilities.

Ideas and outcomes of ideation workshop

Concepting

This concept storyboard contextualises visual and auditory methods for communicating designated areas on buses. The aim is to support better understanding of shared spaces among all passengers.

Concept map of service proposal

Experience prototyping

An interactive prototype allowed participants to role-play different types of bus users. This helped test whether signage, layout, and audio cues were intuitive and respectful.

Key Finding:
Clearer markings and ambient audio were crucial for making the system understandable without making users feel called out.

Participants of immersive experience prototype

Phase 3 · Deliver

Service concept video

Video explaining service proposal · Video editing: Glen Forde

‘Less Pace, More Space’ is a disability awareness system.

This disability awareness system employs textured floor patterns, lighting, and audio cues to clearly designate priority areas on Irish public buses.

It aims to accommodate passengers with both visible and invisible disabilities, as well as families with buggies, while educating all users about respectful space sharing and prioritization.

Visual and auditory elements of the service proposal

Service blueprint

Service blueprint · Future state

Phase 4 · Deploy

‘It’s a wonderful concept and one we would love to see Dublin bus engage with.’

– Access for All Ireland (Project partner)

We presented the concept to the leadership of Access for All Ireland, a leading advocate for barrier-free public transport. They have endorsed the proposal and actively promoted it to Dublin Bus.

Final service presentation with project partner 'Access for All Ireland'

Pilot plan

The following visualises the recommended initial implementation phases of the disability awareness system. 
 

Pilot plan (3 months of service implementation)