Table 1
Socio-demographic and mobility patterns of survey participants (n = 35).
| CATEGORY | SUBCATEGORY | PARTICIPANTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Gender 1 | Female | 20 (57.1%) |
| Male | 15 (42.9%) | |
| Age Range | 20–30 | 1 (2.9%) |
| 31–41 | 5 (14.3%) | |
| 42–52 | 7 (20.0%) | |
| 53–63 | 11 (31.4%) | |
| 64–73 | 9 (25.7%) | |
| 74–85 | 2 (5.7%) | |
| Mobility Aids Used (Multiple selections possible) | Manual Wheelchair | 16 (45.7%) |
| Powered Wheelchair | 14 (40.0%) | |
| Four-wheeled scooter | 5 (14.3%) | |
| Cane | 4 (11.4%) | |
| Walker | 3 (8.6%) | |
| White Cane | 1 (2.9%) | |
| Orthotic/Canadian Crutch, Vocal/Braille Software, Cane, JACO Robotic Arm | 1 each (2.9%) | |
| Principal Occupation | Retired | 15 (42.9%) |
| Part-time Worker | 6 (17.1%) | |
| Full-time Worker | 6 (17.1%) | |
| Volunteer/Humanitarian Work | 5 (14.3%) | |
| Homemaker | 1 (2.9%) | |
| Independent Worker | 1 (2.9%) | |
| Student | 1 (2.9%) | |
| Unemployed | 0 (0%) | |
| Level of Self-perceived Autonomy 2 | Very Autonomous | 10 (28.6%) |
| Fairly Autonomous | 19 (54.3%) | |
| Moderately Autonomous | 4 (11.4%) | |
| Slightly Autonomous | 2 (5.7%) |
[i] 1 Participants responded to: do you identify yourself as female, male, non-binary, or other?
2 Participants responded to: How would you assess your level of autonomy in daily life? They had to choose one of the four possible responses corresponding to a high to low level of self-perception: Very autonomous, Fairly autonomous, Moderately autonomous, Slightly autonomous.
Table 2
Participants interviewed profiles (n = 8).
| PARTICIPANT | GENDER 1 | AGE RANGE | OCCUPATION | MOBILITY AID(S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | Female | 31–41 | Full-time Worker | Manual Wheelchair |
| P2 | Female | 31–41 | Retired | Cane, Walker |
| P3 | Male | 42–52 | Full-time Worker | Manual Wheelchair, Powered Wheelchair |
| P4 | Female | 53–63 | Retired | Manual Wheelchair, Four-wheel scooter, Orthotic/Canadian Crutch |
| P5 | Male | 64–73 | Retired | Manual Wheelchair, Four-wheel scooter, Cane |
| P6 | Female | 64–73 | Retired | Manual Wheelchair |
| P7 | Male | 53–63 | Retired | Manual Wheelchair |
| P8 | Female | 53–63 | Full-time Worker | Powered Wheelchair |
[i] 1 Participants responded to: do you identify yourself as female, male, non-binary, or other?
Figure 1
Analytical coding process in our research.
Table 3
Participants’ transportation mode usage and preferences (n = 35).
| TRANSPORTATION MODE | ACTUAL USE: PARTICIPANTS (%) | INTENTION TO USE: PARTICIPANTS (%) | DIFFERENCE | FAMILY AND FRIENDS USE: PARTICIPANTS (%) | FREQUENCY OF USE: AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK: PARTICIPANTS (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Vehicles | 11 (31.4%) | 19 (54.3%) | +72.7% | 25 (71.4%) | – |
| Paratransit | 16 (45.7%) | 7 (20.0%) | –56.3% | 7 (20%) | 15 (42.8%) |
| Individual Powered Vehicles (IEVs) | 11 (31.4%) | 2 (5.7%) | –81.8% | – | – |
| Fixed-route Public Buses | 5 (14.3%) | 5 (14.3%) | 0% | 2 (5.7%) | 7 (20.0%) |
| Adapted Bicycles | 4 (11.4%) | 2 (5.7%) | –50.0% | 1 (2.9%) | – |
Table 4
Main and least cited reasons for using public transport (n = 35).
| MODE OF TRANSPORT | MAIN REASONS FOR TRAVEL/PARTICIPANTS (%) | LEAST FREQUENT REASONS FOR TRAVEL/PARTICIPANTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed-route Bus | Work, Medical Appointments/ 13 in each category (37.1%) | Work, Tourism and Leisure/11 in each category (31.4%) |
| Paratransit | Work, Medical Appointments/14 in each category (40.0%) | Work, Tourism and Leisure, Medical Appointments/ 13 in each category (37.1%) |
Table 5
Perceived accessibility of fixed-route buses: obstacles, motivating factors, improvements (n = 35).
| DIMENSION | CATEGORY | FACTOR/DETAIL | PARTICIPANTS (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obstacles for Choosing Fixed-Route Bus | - Social Factors | - Crowded buses and potential seat negotiation discomfort | 15 (42.8%) |
| - Crowded bus stops | 11 (31.4%) | ||
| - First and Last Mile Environment | - Incline of the street leading to the bus stop | 12 (34.2%) | |
| - Physical Infrastructure | - Lack of information at bus stops | 10 (28.6%) | |
| - Steep ramp incline for bus access | 8 (22.8%) | ||
| - Narrow boarding area for wheelchairs | 7 (20.0%) | ||
| - Bus stops without shelter | 6 (17.1%) | ||
| Motivations for Choosing Fixed-Route Bus | - Comfort and Social Interactions | - Spontaneity in trip planning | 27 (77.1%) |
| - Increased wheelchair spaces | 15 (42.9%) | ||
| - More tolerant drivers who wait for passengers | 12 (34.3%) | ||
| - First and Last Mile Environment | - Bus routes close to homes | 12 (34.3%) | |
| - Flexibus MaaS service | 8 (22.9%) | ||
| - Accessible bus stops from homes | 7 (20.0%) | ||
| - Price of Tickets | - Affordable ticket prices | 30 (85.7%) | |
| Factors to Improve the Fixed-Route Bus Travel | - Physical Infrastructure Improvements | - More accessible bus stops for wheelchairs | 29 (82.9%) |
| - Reducing travel time (somewhat urgent) | 21 (60.0%) | ||
| - Reducing travel time (very urgent) | 14 (40.0%) | ||
| - Social Factors Improvements | - Kind drivers who wait for passengers | 29 (82.8%) | |
| - Perception of Discrimination | - Never experienced discrimination | 21 (60.0%) | |
| - Rarely experienced discrimination | 9 (25.7%) | ||
| - Sometimes experienced discrimination | 5 (14.3%) |
Table 6
Factors for improving paratransit travel experience (n = 35).
| DIMENSION | FACTOR | PARTICIPANTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Service Quality and Comfort | - Increasing the number of drivers | 26 (74.3%) |
| - Reducing the advance notice time for reservations | 23 (65.7%) | |
| Spontaneity in Paratransit Trips | - Prefer spontaneous trips without a day in advance | 19 (54.3%) |
| - Not bothered by advance reservation | 6 (17.1%) | |
| - Do not use paratransit | 10 (28.6%) |
Table 7
Perceptions and improvements in the accessibility for collective infrastructure in Quebec City (n = 35).
| MEASURE | PERCEPTION | PARTICIPANTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Accessibility in Quebec City | - Average accessibility (some places very accessible, others not at all) | 25 (71.4%) |
| - Lack of accessibility almost everywhere | 9 (25.7%) | |
| - Neighborhood is accessible for getting around | 26 (74.3%) | |
| Encouragement to Leave Home (Top 3 Improvements) | - Stores | 20 (57.1%) |
| - Restaurant terraces | 18 (54.1%) | |
| - Accessible sidewalks for wheelchairs, Individual Powered Vehicles (IEVs). | 16 (45.7%) | |
| Perceived Accessibility of Transportation | - Improving the paratransit service | 15 (42.9%) |
| - Making buses more accessible | 11 (31.4%) | |
| Interest in Exploring New Accessible Places | - Thought about exploring new accessible places in the city in the last six months. | 21 (60.0%) |
Table 8
Urgent measures and risky mobility situations for creating an inclusive city (n = 35).
| MEASURE | PERCEPTION | PARTICIPANTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent Measures for an Inclusive City | - Improving universal accessibility in public places | 33 (94.3%) |
| - Improving transportation accessibility | 28 (80.0%) | |
| - Creating inclusion laws for minority groups | 29 (82.9%) | |
| - Enforcing severe penalties for all types of discrimination | 26 (74.3%) | |
| Risky Mobility Situations to Avoid | - Non-adapted or inaccessible public/private furniture | 24 (68.6%) |
| - Paratransit malfunctions | 18 (51.4%) | |
| - Falling on a sidewalk | 12 (34.3%) |
Table 9
Factors influencing multimodal transport choices (n = 8).
| CATEGORY | SUBCATEGORY | FACTOR DESCRIPTION | IMPACT ON TRANSPORTATION CHOICES * |
|---|---|---|---|
| First and Last Mile Environment | Sidewalks | Sidewalks falling down | Prefers paratransit or car |
| Sidewalk condition uncertain | Prefers paratransit | ||
| Bike Paths | Fantastic in summer | Prefers micromobility | |
| Scenery | Beautiful landscapes | Prefers micromobility | |
| Proximity | Close to residence | Prefers micromobility | |
| Bus Stop | Infrastructure | No covered stop | Prefers paratransit or car |
| Accessibility | Desired stop not accessible | Prefers car | |
| Proximity | Bus stop close to residence | Prefers bus | |
| Weather | Conditions | Snow on sidewalks or strong wind | Prefers paratransit or car |
| Adaptation | Must adapt to winter | Prefers paratransit | |
| Good Weather | Facilitates micromobility | Prefers micromobility | |
| Lacking Car Parking | Parking Availability | No available parking | Prefers paratransit or bus |
| Mobility Aid Compatibility | Assistive Equipment | Four-wheeler scooter doesn’t fit in bus | Prefers paratransit |
| Powered wheelchair doesn’t fit in car | Prefers paratransit | ||
| FreeWheel Usage | Difficult to use FreeWheel | Prefers car | |
| Physical Accessibility | Bus Accessibility | Not all routes are accessible | Prefers paratransit or car |
| Information Clarity | Public Transit Understanding | Unclear how the public transit system works | Prefers paratransit |
| Service Quality | Transfer | Quality of transfer service | Prefers paratransit |
| Service Safety and Reliability | Door-to-Door Service | Picks up at door | Prefers paratransit |
| Fear of Injury | Stability | Fear of falling | Prefers paratransit |
| Vehicle Movement | Wheelchair moves during sharp turns or acceleration | Prefers paratransit or car | |
| Temporal Constraints | Frequency | Frequent bus service | Prefers bus |
| Post-Work Transport Duration | Long transport time after work | Prefers car | |
| Early Departure | Departure too early | Prefers car | |
| Social Factors in Travel | Crowding | Difficulty entering or exiting, crowded buses | Prefers paratransit or car |
| Seat Availability | Uncertainty to find a free seat | Prefers paratransit | |
| Seat Conflicts | Conflicts over the single adapted seat | Prefers paratransit or car | |
| Social Activity Flexibility | Paratransit Flexibility | Lack of flexibility in paratransit | Prefers bus |
| Spontaneous Needs | Desire for spontaneity | Prefers bus | |
| Sudden Urges | Ability to accommodate sudden needs | Prefers bus | |
| Booking Ahead for Work | Books the day before for work | Prefers paratransit | |
| Mobility and Aging | Manual Wheelchair Constraints | Shoulder problems limit manual wheelchair use | Prefers paratransit |
| Age-Related Mobility Decline | Decline in physical ability over time | Prefers paratransit | |
| Car Entry Difficulty | Unable to get into the car independently | Prefers paratransit | |
| Freedom and Independence | Car Preference | Personal preference for vehicle type and independence | Prefers car |
| Self-Sufficiency | Valuing self-sufficiency and independence | Prefers car | |
| Powered Wheelchair Freedom | Enhanced freedom using powered wheelchair | Prefers micromobility |
[i] * Transport choices reflect the narratives of accessibility of the interviewed participants.