May 09, 2023
Research on the go: Project SINFONICA on the tram
Research on the go: Project SINFONICA on the tram
Recently, our chair had the opportunity to present the SINFONICA project during a tram ride and discuss different mobility challenges with citizens. The tram ride under the topic of ‘‘Shared experiences against prejudices’’ took place on 23/04/2023 and was organized by the Volkshochschule Dresden [community college Dresden]. People with mobility challenges, especially seniors and wheelchair users, participated in the one-hour ride. Two representatives of the project consortium at the TU Dresden had the opportunity to first describe the background and objectives of the SINFONICA project to the participants and then interview them regarding the topics relevant to the project. Examples include problems experienced when using public transport, perceptions of new mobility forms, and wishes/ needs for the design of future public transport.
The discussions were very insightful and clearly showed that many barriers still hinder people from using public transport effectively. Some participants reported challenges with boarding and getting off, while others complained about insufficient information or a lack of accessibility at stops. Wheelchair users described problems such as a lack of transparency regarding the information provided before the ride and communication difficulties (e.g. when they need assistance with boarding). Furthermore, while discussing new automated mobility options, participants expressed skepticism concerning safety and optimism about better connectivity in rural areas. Although the number of participants was lower than expected, we could still collect information on interesting aspects and problems that adds valuable input to the SINFONICA project. Therefore, we would like to thank the participants for their active participation and the Volkshochschule Dresden [community college Dresden] for organizing the event and giving us the opportunity to present our project in this context.
For more information on the project SINFONICA, please visit the project homepage: https://sinfonica.eu/
