Facilitators and barriers to inclusive and safe mobility on urban roads in Kathmandu, Nepal: A participatory research study

Gautam, Preeti; Khadka, Anish; Chand, Obindra B.; Prasai, Manish; Paudel, Sunil; Kumar Joshi, Sunil; Mytton, Julie; Brangan, Emer

Abstract

Research suggests that built environment and transport services affect the health and well-being of people with a disability. In Nepal, there is limited evidence describing the safety of road users in transport environments. The perceptions of safety in people with a disability while travelling across urban centres in Nepal is unknown. We explored the experiences of people with a disability regarding their mobility and identified facilitators and barriers to achieving safe and inclusive travel in Kathmandu. We used video-elicitation interviews with seven people with a disability and interviewed five advocacy practitioners and five decision-makers. All participants considered poor road conditions and transport infrastructure, and drivers' speeding behaviour hindered their ability to travel safely. The absence of coordination between government agencies and of disability-friendly infrastructure standards were the major reasons impeding inclusive and safe travel. Our study suggests that the key issue to be addressed is the implementation of existing policies.

Citation

Gautam, P., Khadka, A., Chand, O. B., Prasai, M., Paudel, S., Kumar Joshi, S., …Brangan, E. (in press). Facilitators and barriers to inclusive and safe mobility on urban roads in Kathmandu, Nepal: A participatory research study. Disability and Society,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 14, 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 24, 2024
• Print ISSN: 0968-7599
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11841291