Addressing Barriers to PRESTO Payments on the TTC for Individuals Living with Limited Arm Mobility
PROJECT OVERVIEW
This project addressed accessibility barriers in Toronto’s TTC PRESTO payment system, which excludes individuals with limited arm mobility due to its reliance on physical interactions. Through comprehensive research and user-centered design, our team proposed solutions such as extended tap surfaces, wearable wallets, and pre-payment NFC technology to enhance accessibility. The project aimed to empower users by fostering independence, ensuring equitable transit access, and promoting inclusive design practices.
DURATION
Sept-Dec 2024
MY ROLE
Research and inclusive design lead.
Sector
Public Transportation, Accessibility, and Inclusive Design
Objective
To redesign the TTC’s PRESTO payment system to ensure equitable access for individuals with limited arm mobility, enhancing transit accessibility.
The Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) PRESTO payment system is designed with the assumption that all users can perform precise physical interactions, such as lifting their arms or retrieving cards from wallets. This design inherently excludes individuals with limited arm mobility, creating significant barriers to their independent access to public transit. These barriers are further exacerbated by situational factors like crowded environments, winter clothing, and the pressure to move quickly during peak hours. Our work aims to address these challenges by identifying and solving the accessibility gaps in the PRESTO system to ensure equitable, independent, and dignified transit access for all users.
PROBLEM IDENTIFIED
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Dependence on physical interaction for fare payment excludes users with limited arm mobility.
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Fixed placement of PRESTO readers requires fine motor skills and upper-body mobility.
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Lack of independence for users who must rely on assistance.
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Financial and technological barriers for users with limited access to digital payment methods.
RESEARCH PROCESS
Primary Research:
Observations at TTC stations, buses, and streetcars.
Insights from online forums (e.g., Reddit posts by individuals with dexterity and flexibility disabilities).
Sensor sensitivity tests with contactless payment readers.
Secondary Research:
Studies on accessibility barriers in global transit systems (e.g., Hong Kong, Tokyo, Vancouver).
Review of digital payment accessibility challenges.
Analysis of financial constraints affecting accessibility.
Methodologies:
Journey Mapping: Visualized user pain points like inability to reload cards on buses.
Affinity Diagramming: Categorized issues into themes such as physical, financial, and technological barriers.
KEY INSIGHTS
Current PRESTO system excludes individuals with limited arm mobility
Reliance on digital systems marginalizes users with financial and technological limitations.
Physical placement of readers and the design of fare gates fail to accommodate diverse user needs.
Situational factors like rush hours and winter clothing exacerbate accessibility challenges.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Extended Tap Surfaces
Larger, vertically placed tap surfaces to reduce the need for precise arm movements.
Inspired by ski lift gates to minimize effort and enhance accessibility.
Pre-payment Extended Range
NFC technology for automatic gate opening without physical tapping.
Draws from Vancouver’s universal fare gate access program.
Wearable Wallet
Adjustable pouches for PRESTO cards worn on the body (e.g., arms or neck).
Tested to ensure compatibility with existing PRESTO sensors.
Universal Free Transit
Elimination of fare payment to remove all accessibility barriers.
A policy-driven solution to promote inclusivity and reduce congestion.
For a deeper dive into our research process, design solutions, and evaluation, we invite you to explore our full report. This comprehensive document outlines the methodologies we employed, the insights we gathered, and the impact of our proposed solutions, providing a detailed roadmap for addressing accessibility barriers in the TTC’s PRESTO system. You can access the complete report through the link below.
