The Experiences of Public Transport Drivers with People with Disability in the City of Tshwane, South Africa

Purpose: Public transport drivers are an intermediary between transport infrastructure and passengers with disability. The purpose of this study was to understand the perspectives of public transport drivers on their encounters with passengers with disability, and the impact this has on public transport inaccessibility. Method: A qualitative research approach was applied. A semi-structured interview guide was utilised to collect data from public transport drivers. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data and an inductive approach was followed to allow data to determine themes. Results: The study found that public transport drivers operate under challenging conditions. The drivers’ main issues and challenges are lack of training and knowledge on disability, negative attitudes displayed by passengers, and having to satisfy conflicting demands from both employers and passengers with disability. The conflicting demands are intensified by the lack of universally designed vehicles and infrastructure. Conclusion: The actions of transport providers contribute to transport inaccessibility. The identification of issues and drivers’ concerns in this study could help to enhance driver training, improve transport services and enrich inputs into public transport policies.