Transportation that treats us well: the mobility needs of transit users with disabilities in La Paz and El Alto, Bolivia (2015)

Undergraduates: Raleigh McCoy, Gwen Kash

Faculty Advisor: Daniel Rodriguez
Department: Public Policy

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In this paper, we examine the needs of disabled residents of La Paz and El Alto, Bolivia with regards to public transit. Through semi-structured interviews with people with mobility impairments, we identify the most pressing problems as seen by disabled people themselves. We find that, while the transit system in LP/EA fails to meet any standard of physical accessibility, respondents were more concerned with the lack of support from drivers and fellow passengers than with the physical condition of streets and vehicles. Pervasive discrimination from bus operators results in long wait times and the obligatory use of more expensive modes of transport such as taxis. Overcoming these barriers is vital for the social inclusion of disabled residents.
We trace these problems to the economic incentives created by the region¿¿¿s informal transit system. Respondents favorably evaluate recent efforts by the municipality to create a formal transit system. We argue that the continuation of such efforts is the best opportunity to improve mobility for disabled residents. However, it is imperative that policymakers devote attention to the human aspects of transit service rather than just the physical design.