Ergonomic Design of Public Bus in The Philippines with Provision for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability

School of Industrial Engineering and Service Engineering Management, Mapúa University 658 Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila 1002, Philippines

^* Corresponding author: mjjgumasing@mapua.edu.ph

Abstract

Comfortability in buses for commuters particularly those with special needs such as senior citizen and person with disability is a concern, which requires attention. Public buses are highly used mode of transportation in the Philippines, both provincial and city. In this work, the researchers aim to determine the design factors that affect the comfortability of commuters and eventually come up with an ergonomic design of public bus to be used in the Philippines with provision for senior citizen and persons with disability. The study covers and mainly focused on designing bus doors and its interior for the accessibility of the senior citizens and persons with mobility aid such as wheelchairs, crutches and canes ergonomically. The researchers have conducted review of related literature, direct observation, surveys, interviews and actual measurements of bus dimensions in order to describe factually and accurately the current design of buses in the Philippines. The researchers have improved the current design of provincial public buses having trips from Cavite to Manila (vice versa) with consideration of the issues and needs of the commuters in riding a bus.