Research Explores Avenues for Improving Paratransit Service for Those With Disabilities
Posted: May 19, 2025
Research at the University of Colorado Denver found that paratransit trips experience more inefficient travel times than an equivalent car trip. Paratransit is assumed to be an effective door-to-door service that enables people with disabilities to travel easily. However, when using the standard benchmark of car travel as a comparison, the research shows that paratransit often fails those with disabilities. The research is important for practitioners and scholarly communities working to improve paratransit policy. To date, most research has investigated technology-enabled solutions to increase travel mode efficiency for those with disabilities. This research examines other avenues, so far unexplored, to increase time-efficient travel for people with disabilities. For example, the analysis suggests that agencies should focus on improving paratransit services through adopting tools that eliminate pre-travel inefficiencies and leverage the spatial and temporal patterns to optimize operational efficiency.
Manish Shirgaokar, Ph.D.
University of Colorado Denver