Managing Inclusivity in the Public Transportation System Through Accessibility and Safety Education for Persons with Disabilities in Windhoek, Namibia

Abstract

The rights of people with disabilities require social inclusion in transportation and mobility. The purpose of this paper is to assess the management inclusivity of the public transport systems for persons with disabilities in the City of Windhoek, Namibia. The paper addresses these objectives: 1) to identify the accessibility and safety measures in the public transportation system of the City of Windhoek for persons with disabilities, and 2) to establish the available educational information on accessibility and safety for persons with disabilities in the City of Windhoek’s transportation system. A qualitative approach was employed to explore the management of inclusivity in the public transport system of the City of Windhoek, Namibia. Purposeful and referral-sampling techniques were used to select participants. Purposeful sampling was used to select managers who work in the transportation department in the City of Windhoek. A referral sampling was used to select five persons with disabilities representing various impairments: three disability representatives from the Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, two municipal bus drivers, and two taxi drivers. A sample of 15 people participated in the study. Data was collected using the interview guide and document analysis. Face-to-face interviews were used to source data from the respondents. A content analysis strategy was used to make meaning out of the raw data. The study found that there is a significant gap in public awareness and education regarding transportation accessibility and safety for persons with disability. There is also a lack of access to relevant information, highlighting the need for educational resources tailored to their needs. The study recommends that drivers’ training programmes should be enhanced. It is further recommended that the transportation system should improve signage and information. Lastly, further research is recommended to examine the impact of public awareness campaigns and targeted training programmes for transportation staff.