Tag: accessible transport

Making transport more accessible

and there’s still time to share your views on making it better

DisabledAccess

Over 140 people,  including many disabled people and their representatives, took the opportunity to have their say on making transport more accessible at a summit in Edinburgh yesterday.

The Transport Accessibility Summit, hosted by Transport Scotland, brought together interested parties, including local and central government, to discuss a range of key issues raised by disabled people.

The conference also enabled transport operators across different modes to hear the personal stories behind the issues and to share best practice.

Transport Minister Derek Mackay addressed the audience of over 60 disabled people, their support, disabled groups and transport providers to highlight the need to work together in partnership to make end to end journeys better.

He said: “Transport accessibility is important for everyone but disabled people face particular barriers. Statistics suggest that a non-disabled adult is 50 per cent more likely to make any kind of journey than a disabled adult – that is something we aim to address.

“By hosting this summit, our aim is to enable everyone involved to gain a better understanding of why so many disabled people are put off making journeys and how we can work together to make end to end journeys more accessible.

“Many of the people attending the summit support the statement – ‘nothing about us without us’ – and I will ensure that my Transport Scotland officials strive to make that happen, as well as commending this approach to transport providers in Scotland.

“Disabled people should enjoy the same rights, choice and opportunities to use travel as everyone else. I want a Scotland where disabled people know they can travel in comfort and safety and with the confidence of knowing they will be helped to complete that journey successfully and according to their needs. Today’s summit is a small but a positive step towards that vision.”

In the lead up to the summit Transport Scotland, together with Scottish Disability Equality Forum (SDEF) and other stakeholders, held a series of meetings which raised almost 50 issues for discussion including:

  • making journeys to and from stations much better, this includes train stations, bus stations and ferry terminals;
  • providing accessible toilet facilities like changing places toilets near transport hubs;
  • challenging hate crime on public transport and make sure disabled people know about any breakdowns or changes to travel.
  • offering other accessible transport or help to finish the journey;
  • talking to disabled people about how to change attitudes of staff.

Susan Grasekamp, Chief Executive of, SDEF said: “The high level of engagement and contribution which the early events enjoyed reinforces how vital accessible transport is to improve quality of life and independent living for disabled people in Scotland.

“The summit has been a great step towards gathering the right people around the table to effect real and positive change in accessible transport, taking into account the vast differences between rural and urban area transport issues in Scotland.

“SDEF and its members are delighted to have been part of these events and we are hopeful that the Accessible Transport Summit marks the beginning of a more collaborative, open and transparent process in the planning, design and implementation of future transport services.”

Keith Lynch, Chair of People First said: “Barriers to transport can be physical, due to inaccessible provision of information or because of the attitude and approach of society towards people with an intellectual impairment.

“People First welcome the opportunity to work with local authorities, transport providers, and other organisations to improve accessible information and also to raise public awareness of the impact and the seriousness of hate incidents and crime.”

Jenny Miller, Chief Executive PAMIS said: “We are delighted to be involved in this accessible transport summit – a real partnership venture working with Transport Scotland teams and with transport providers. We really hope that this is the beginning of a new way of working that will enable all people in Scotland to be able to access transport no matter what specific needs they have or where they live.

“People with profound and multiple learning disabilities are some of the most socially excluded people in Scotland, in order for people to travel and access the community there needs to be a network of accessible Changing Places toilets, including at transport hubs.

“Transport Scotland has supported this message with transport providers and PAMIS is already seeing the difference this is making with transport advisors contacting us to find out about how they can provide the right solution.

“We are excited to be involved in the summit and look forward to continued working partnerships as we all pledge to make Scotland’s transport accessible for all.”

People with an interest in accessible transport but who could not attend the summit can still have their say via the SDEF website – go to

http://your-say-on-disability.org.uk/survey/

A report of the summit and a plan of action will be produced later this year and will be taken forward in partnership with disabled people and transport providers.

Lazarowicz supports accessible transport plan

‘disabled people must have a say in how the service is designed’ – Mark Lazarowicz MP

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Mark Lazarowicz MP has responded enthusiastically to a report by the Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance (SATA) on the way ahead to make transport more accessible for disabled people. 

The Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance (SATA’s) Accessible Transport Strategy and Action Plan for Scotland is the first and most comprehensive such strategy and plan for Scotland. It covers the period 2015 to 2020 and includes all transport modes and services, the transport environment, information provision and staff training. It addresses the need to consult and involve disabled people at all levels and all stages in reviewing what is lacking and what should be done (see link to full document, below).

It’s an issue the North and Leith MP has campaigned actively on, and he said: “I warmly welcome this report which aims to make transport accessible for everyone: accessible transport must be at the heart of any new public transport development and disabled people must have a real say in how it is designed.

“Accessible transport benefits everyone: tackling problem parking which forces people out into the street to get by, audio-visual announcements on buses, access at Waverley station are all issues I have campaigned on which especially affect disabled people, but not just them.

“Making transport more accessible for disabled people is a key way to enable them to lead more independent lives but it can improve everyone else’s quality of life too.”

Mark Lazarowicz campaigned strongly against the current UK Government’s decision to axe its own advisory body on accessible transport and it was forced into a u-turn.

Last summer he introduced a Bill to devolve the power to tackle irresponsible parking, working closely with the voluntary organisations, Guide Dogs and Living Streets. It forced the Government to consult with all the interested parties and make a commitment to make the change by Executive Order.

He has also highlighted that more work needs to be done to make Waverley station properly accessible for disabled people after its closure to vehicles but there is also a problem for pedestrians and cyclists as well who have to share the pedestrian footway from Waverley Bridge.

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Accessible Transport Strategy Action Plan Scotland

Five broad principles are adopted in SATA’s strategy:

  • Working in partnership with public, private, community and statutory transport providers to improve transport services, making them easier to use and understand so that people’s confidence about using them is increased;
  • Being proactive in our efforts to identify and remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities accessing the transport system and to ensure that further barriers are not created;
  • Implementing best practice by making sure that we keep up-to-date with best practice and reflect this when developing policies and implementation plans;
  • Good consultation, working openly and in partnership with people who provide transport services and facilities and those who use them. Strive to maintain good communication with people with disabilities to listen to their views and exchange information;
  • Value for money in targeting available resources towards initiatives that are affordable, sustainable and that maximise the benefits for people with disabilities.

The Plan sets out seven strategic objectives:

  1. Ensure that disabled people have an effective say in the planning, design and operation of transport services, facilities and operations.

  2. Ensure that the Equality Act requirements are met and affordable adjustments are made so that accessibility for disabled people is a condition of public money being spent on all new public transport investment;

  3. Develop an integrated and fully accessible public transport system in partnership with key stakeholders which will enable disabled people to travel in safety and in comfort and be able to move easily between modes;

  4. Enable disabled people to travel using cars and other means of private transport;

  5. Address a lack of awareness and understanding that prevents or discourages disabled people from using transport services and facilities that are available to them;

  6. Ensure that information in a range of formats is available for all public transport services to enable disabled people to plan and make these journeys easily; and

  7. Provide help with travel costs and offer practical assistance to enable disabled people to use the transport services available to them.

Consultation on the strategy and plan closed on Friday (16 January).

You can find the North & Leith MP’s formal response here