Elderly Challenge - Observation 1

Elderly Challenges On Buses

(during rainy days & when on double-decker buses)

Part 1--During Rainy Days:

As buses gradually become one of the most often used public transport, that probably means that there are more problems that the elderly will meet when they are on buses.

During rainy days, the floor of the bus may be very slippery and this may cause  accidents to happen. Since the elderly have problems in mobility, some accidents can be falling accidents and injure themselves. In order to avoid the occurrence of such accidents, we need to know the causes of it. First, the floor of the bus is slippery during rainy days is because of the wet umbrellas and the wet shoes of the commuters. 

In order to resolve this problem and to reduce the risk of the elderly falling, there are two things that can be done. 

First, is to provide the commuters with umbrella bags to keep their umbrellas. Also, the commuters should have a sense of responsibility by bringing their own bags to put the umbrellas in so that we can save the environment. The diagram below is the picture of the umbrella bags which I am referring to.

The image is taken from: http://www.irisong.com/photo/umbrella_bag.jpg

Second, is to place a water absorbing mat by the entrance of the bus so that the commuters can dry the bottom of their shoes before going into the bus.

Below is a website that sells such water absorbing entrance mat and the price starts with about $20.

http://mats.apluswhs.com/entrance-mats/water-absorbing-entrance-mats/

Part 2--when on double-decker buses:

When elderly people are boarding the double-decker buses, it will be very dangerous and inconvenient for them to process to the second level to take their seats.


As public, we should let the elderly to have the priority to take the seats on the first level in order to reduce the risk of accidents from happening. 


Also, I think we should have finger-like curves for the poles on buses. This is to allow the elderly to grip more firmly to the pole in case if no seats are available. We have to improve on the poles because not all elderly people are able to grip the hanging handles on the buses.

Lai Ziying 
S101