AccessRoute

Inspiration

Subway systems can be difficult to navigate for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility. Even when a station is accessible, a broken elevator can suddenly make the planned route impossible.

We wanted to create a tool that not only shows which subway routes are accessible, but also helps users find another way when an elevator is out of service.

What it does

AccessRoute is a subway navigation app designed for people with limited mobility.

Users enter their destination, and the app finds subway routes with elevator access. It also shows the status of elevators along the route.

If an elevator at a station is out of service, AccessRoute automatically finds an alternative accessible subway route so users can still reach their destination.

How we built it

We designed AccessRoute with accessibility as a core part of subway route planning.

The app combines subway route and station information with elevator accessibility and outage data. When an elevator outage makes a route inaccessible, the system avoids that station or transfer and searches for another route with working elevators.

Challenges we ran into

One of our biggest challenges was that an accessible subway station is not always accessible in real time. A single elevator outage can make it impossible for someone using a wheelchair to enter, exit, or transfer at a station.

This means our route planning needs to consider not only where elevators are located, but also whether they are currently working.

What we learned

We learned that accessibility is not just about labeling a subway station as “accessible.” A truly accessible navigation system needs to consider the entire journey and adapt when elevator conditions change.

What’s next for AccessRoute

We hope to add real-time elevator outage alerts, accessible station entrance information, and personalized accessibility preferences.

Our goal is to make subway travel more predictable, independent, and accessible for people with limited mobility.