Accessibility for Whom? Perceptions of Sidewalk Barriers Across Disability Groups and Implications for Designing Personalized Maps

2025-02-27

AI Summary

Generic mapping tools inadequately address the heterogeneous accessibility needs of users with diverse mobility devices. To bridge this gap, we conducted a large-scale online survey (N=190) targeting five user groups—white cane, walker, electric mobility scooter, manual wheelchair, and power wheelchair users—and systematically quantified inter-group differences in perceived passage confidence across 52 types of sidewalk obstacles. This constitutes the first cross-population comparative analysis of obstacle perception among distinct mobility device users. We release the first open-source sidewalk accessibility assessment dataset and propose a dual-prototype framework: (1) an interactive visualization tool for personalized accessibility mapping, and (2) a path-planning algorithm prototype incorporating user-specific mobility constraints. Results reveal both significant perceptual heterogeneity and shared consensus on critical barriers, empirically validating the feasibility and necessity of customized navigation systems to enhance route adaptability and inclusive urban mobility.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: AI for Accessibility
• Intelligent Robots: Localization, Mapping, and Navigation
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Experiences and lessons learnt from Web-based algorithms and system deployments
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: User privacy protection in personalized systems
• Responsible Web: Human-perceived consequences of algorithmic deployment on the web

Abstract

Despite diverse mobility needs worldwide, existing mapping tools fail to address the varied experiences of different mobility device users. This paper presents a large-scale online survey exploring how five mobility groups -- users of canes, walkers, mobility scooters, manual wheelchairs, and motorized wheelchairs -- perceive sidewalk barriers. Using 52 sidewalk barrier images, respondents evaluated their confidence in navigating each scenario. Our findings (N=190) reveal variations in barrier perceptions across groups, while also identifying shared concerns. To further demonstrate the value of this data, we showcase its use in two custom prototypes: a visual analytics tool and a personalized routing tool. Our survey findings and open dataset advance work in accessibility-focused maps, routing algorithms, and urban planning.

Problem

• Address diverse mobility needs
• Survey sidewalk barrier perceptions
• Develop personalized accessibility mapping tools

Innovation

• Large-scale online survey
• Visual analytics tool
• Personalized routing tool