| dc.description.abstract | This dissertation research examines whether autonomous vehicles (AVs) have the potential to become a viable transportation option to improve mobility for people with disabilities. In this study, I focus on two disability types, including physical disabilities (i.e., difficulty in walking or climbing stairs) and visual impairments (i.e., difficulty seeing while wearing glasses or blind). The study areas include Austin and Houston, Texas, USA.
This study uses mixed-methods of focus groups and surveys to explore people with disabilities’ mobility issues and their perceptions of the potential of autonomous vehicle transportation (AVT) services that help improve mobility. Through the analyses of focus group and survey data, it was found that the current public transportation services and neighborhood built environments still caused mobility issues for those with disabilities. Furthermore, the results showed that people with disabilities highly expected AVT to resolve their mobility issues despite several concerns regarding the accessibility and safety of AVs. The findings also suggested that people with disabilities’ expectations for AVT might be due to the frustrations that came from mobility issues.
Built upon these findings, this study examines the probability of AVT being chosen as a viable transportation option among people with disabilities and what factors influence their choice. To explain both observable factors and unobservable psychological factors, this study employs a hybrid choice model (HCM) using stated preference data collected by the survey. The model results showed that some people with disabilities still worried about the absence of a human assistant when they chose AVT. In addition, the results corroborated that a high preference for AVT among people with disabilities were associated with their negative attitudes toward public transportation services and built environments. That is, the results corroborated the expectations of people with disabilities that AVT would resolve their mobility issues. Nevertheless, since people with disabilities’ mobility issues are complex and intertwined in several ways across different domains, such as transportation systems and built environments, AV technology alone would hardly resolve all. Therefore, even in the era of AVs, to improve people with disabilities’ mobility, it will be important to develop more targeted strategies through the multidisciplinary approach. | en |
