Annex A: 48 issues within the Accessible Travel Framework
Improve accessible transport options for Disabled People
- Improve accessibility at more railway stations.
- Make each mode of transport more accessible to disabled people at least to, but preferably beyond, minimum standard and as quickly as possible.
- Consider how we influence design of buses/minibuses for people with different access needs.
- Standardise, evaluate, and make mandatory delivery of disability equality training across all transport bodies.
- Train all transport providers in human rights and their roles and responsibilities in relation to disabled people
- Seek commitments to improve effectiveness of equality training to taxi drivers to be able to assist disabled people.
- Provide a guide for providers and disabled people to help them understand the equality responsibilities by giving them targeted, focused information on legislation, policies, regulation, contractual obligations, etc.
- Provide a reference guide for transport operators on what they could do to support disabled people to travel more easily.
- Use the upcoming Clyde and Hebridean ferry services tender to do more in terms of access.
- Accommodate the different needs for an accessible taxi.
- Funders such as Scottish Government could offer grants to help taxi firms improve their fleet to include accessible taxis improve their fleet to include accessible taxis.
- Local authorities should collect information on numbers and types of accessible taxis in their area to help them identify where improvements are needed.
- Require taxis to provide evidence (for example a certificate) of their exemption from taking passengers in wheelchairs or assistance dogs from taking passengers in wheelchairs or assistance dogs.
- Use taxi licensing to ensure (20)% of taxis at any one time are accessible to wheelchair users in each local authority area.
- Consider some form of central leadership or guidance for local demand responsive transport.
- Address issues where there is not enough ambulance transport – especially when needed for scheduled hospital appointments.
- Ensure appropriate toilet facilities near transport hubs: changing places toilets.
- Extend/improve concessionary travel to include community transport.
- Address low availability of sign language interpreters or people with some knowledge of signing.
- Upgrade the class 156 train which serves the Highlands to current vehicle accessibility standards (by law compliance must be by 2020).
- Pilot an accessible taxi share scheme – like car clubs – for local areas where no taxi firms have wheelchair accessible vehicles taxi firms have wheelchair accessible vehicles.
- Give prioritisation of wheelchair users over buggies on buses – how do we.
Ensure that journeys become easier and safer
- Consider how to have better integration between different modes of transport.
- Ensure paths are clear of obstructions like bollards, road works and wheelie bins and are accessible for all.
- Make the journey experience better for disabled people getting to and from (and going between) bus and train stations and ferry terminals.
- Ensure that transport providers take responsibility for completion of a journey.
- Make tickets easier to access.
- Ensure customer surveys are in accessible formats and relevant to issues for disabled travellers.
- Consider dangers when vehicles and pedestrians share the same space without obvious dividing lines and consult disabled people for solutions.
- Ensure that Blue Badge parking is rigorously enforced.
- Provide accessible information for disabled people to help them be safer on public transport.
- Tackle hate crime on public transport with help from British Transport Police.
- Agree on a universal symbol signage system across all modes of transport to make travelling more accessible for all (disabled people, non-English speaking, etc).
- Produce a good practice strategy for signage replacement.
- Develop better travel information, e.g. on time and places of available buses, increase in use of audio and visual description.
- Make the journey experience better for disabled people getting to and from (and going between) bus and train stations and ferry terminals
- Ensure that transport providers take responsibility for completion of a journey.
- Make tickets easier to access.
- Ensure customer surveys are in accessible formats and relevant to issues for disabled travellers.
- Consider dangers when vehicles and pedestrians share the same space without obvious dividing lines and consult disabled people for solutions.
- Ensure that Blue Badge parking is rigorously enforced.
- Provide accessible information for disabled people to help them be safer on public transport.
- Tackle hate crime on public transport with help from British Transport Police.
- Agree on a universal symbol signage system across all modes of transport to make travelling more accessible for all (disabled people, non-English speaking, etc).
- Produce a good practice strategy for signage replacement.
- Develop better travel information, e.g. on time and places of available buses, increase in use of audio and visual description.
- Develop integration of timetable information of different modes of transport.
- Ensure disabled people are aware of any breakdowns or changes to travel and alternative accessible transport/assistance is provided to complete the journey.
- If an accessible bus breaks down, ensure that it is replaced by an accessible bus.
- Ensure people know exactly where and when an accessible bus will be available (including accessible bus stop).
- Provide a means of contacting operator in accessible format if things go wrong.
- Ensure more publicity for Passenger Assist, which is a central booking system for assistance to travel by rail.
- Make booking of accessible taxis more accessible.
- Taxis to be contactable by SMS, not just a phone number.
Provide a platform for Disabled People to influence policy
- Set up working reference groups involving public transport bodies, Regional Transport Partnerships Disabled People’s Organisations, and local groups to inform on priority connection issues.
- Include disabled people and Disabled People Organisations in decisions on transport.
- Discuss with disabled people how to influence attitudes of staff.
- Consider the removal of Blue Badge charges for those on low incomes.
- Consult locally and decide with disabled people on the number of Blue Badge spaces.