Big Ticket Items - Year at a Glance

Successor to the Accessible Travel Framework (ATF)

This year, MACS set influencing the shape of the Successor to the Accessible Travel Framework as one of its objectives. We were keen to ensure that the successor benefitted from the experience of the Framework and resulted in some improvements. In November, MACS wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, setting out our position. The points we are particularly keen to see actioned are:

• A better linkage between the Accessible Travel Framework and mainstream transport policy, particularly the National Transport Strategy 2 (NTS2), which should have a role to play in monitoring it.

• A series of concrete targets to be achieved by the end of the Successor’s timeframe in ten years’ time, e.g. level-boarding for all ScotRail rolling stock.

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport accepted our case overall and our views are being fed into the restructuring of the Successor, including how it fits into the NTS2. MACS has also drawn up a series of concrete targets that could be included in the Successor, which are being considered.

This work has been an example of effective collaboration and engagement, with the Convener and Vice-Convener meeting with the Accessible Travel Team Leader on a semi-regular basis. Transport Scotland’s Accessible Travel Team have also engaged with the full Committee on this regularly, providing updates and taking on queries at our Quarterly Board meetings.

RAUCs (Roads Authorities and Utilities Committee for Scotland) Seminar

Continuing our work with the Road Works Commissioner, members of the Active Travel and Infrastructure Workstream were invited to attend their annual seminar, where we presented videos showing the barriers some people face when temporary roadworks are not installed allowing for accessibility. 

Our presentation was received very positively by the members with many queries from members including utility companies. MACS welcomes this type of opportunity to engage with those responsible for shaping our built and natural environments that we use to access public transport.

Working with Motability

MACS has been working hard to advocate for value for money for customers of the Motability scheme, building upon our positive relationships with the CEOs of both Motability Operations (MO) & Motability Foundation (MF).

We asked them to set up a Scottish Transport Equity Group to explore how MO & MF could better support both disabled people and their organisations. The Scottish Transport Equity Group has met twice over the year, and it will continue to meet to influence how profits can be better directed to support disabled people in Scotland.

We are in active and regular dialogue with Motability about the recent changes to the scheme as a result of the Westminster Budget. MACS are deeply concerned that Accessible Vehicle Equipment (AVE) scheme users are being subject to disproportionate financial impact by the UK Government, facing higher deposits and increasingly expensive running costs. We will continue to raise our great concerns over this issue, highlighting the adverse impact on disabled peoples’ wellbeing to Scottish Ministers.