Walkability Assessment of First Mile Last Mile Public Transport System of Neighbourhood in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Singapore for Persons with Disabilities: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Information on public transport infrastructure factors affecting mobility and walkability within neighbourhoods among PWD in cities of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Singapore is limited.  The study objective was to explore the accessibility of numerous facilitators and barriers in built environment within first mile last mile (FMLM) public transport in naturally occurring retirement community (NORC) neighbourhood within Kuala Lumpur and using Singapore as a benchmark.  The research using Direct Observation technique was conducted through Access Audit on six routes at two locations, namely Malaysia (i.e., MY1, MY2, MY3) and Singapore (i.e., SG1, SG2, SG3), with a particular focus on five groups of PWD (Physical, Learning, Blind, Deaf, Elderly).  The collected data were analysed for various environmental facilitators and barriers concerning connectivity, comfort, attitude, legibility, and safety of the FMLM public transport in the neighbourhoods.  Four FMLM access to public transport determinants emerged and described in order of occurrence frequency in Malaysia case study: transportation service determinant, built environment characteristic, social environment determinant and individual attributes determinant.  Different PWD groups had different vulnerabilities and prone to environmental barriers of FMLM in public transport system in Kuala Lumpur as opposed to Singapore.  Therefore, it is proposed that walkability of FMLM neighbourhood to be integral component of PWD accessibility, connectivity, and safety when designing built environment in Malaysia.