Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2006

Subject Area

Infrastructure - Seating, Location - Europe, Mobility - Accessibility (Disability), Mobility - Vision Impairment, Modes of Transport - Bus, Modes of Transport - Train, Modes of Transport - Tram

Abstract

Many people find travelling around, whether within their own neighbourhood or over longer distances, difficult or even impossible. It is only in comparatively recent times that the scale of the barriers to mobility in the environment and in transport services has been recognised. Unless and until these barriers are removed, a substantial proportion of the population will continue to be at a disadvantage, unable to travel as they would wish and consequently limited in the extent to which they can participate in society. The numbers of people whose mobility is constrained in this way is very substantial. A recent study by Eurostat on employment of disabled people in Europe estimated that among people of working age (16-64 years), 44.6 million - i.e. one in six (15.7%) had a long standing health problem or disability. Difficulty moving around can arise for many reasons; disability is one but so too are temporary impairments, which can encompass anything from a loge broken in a skiing accident to having a small child and/or several baskets of shopping. Two studies, one in Germany, the other in France, estimated that at any onte time between 20 and 30% of people travelling has a mobility difficulty for one reason or another. It is also important to remember that it is not just physical disabilities that may cause problems for people when they are travelling. Sensory impaairments - not being able to see or hear - can cause difficulties, so too can intellectual disabilities, mental health problems and difficulties with communication. Whatever definition of reduced mobility or disability is used, it is clear that very large numbers of people are affected by barriers to movement. Moreover, the numbers of people affected are likely to increase in the future. Europe has an ageing population and there is a clear correlation between age and disability. It is also worth noting that improved accessibility makes travelling easier for everyone, not just disabled people. This guide is intended to show how barriers to mobility and the use of public and private transport can be removed. The guide is not intended to be a very detailed and absolutely comprehensive guide to good practice; rather it is intended to provide a vade mecum for anyone who is concerned with transport whether as a designer, planner or operator; to give good advice and some details of the more important aspects of accessible transport infrastructure, vehicles and information, and to provide a list of sources where more detailed and specific information can be found. It is important to remember that the majority of journeys involve using more than one mode of transport. Therefore, the overall objective of creating accessible transport services should be to develop a seamless system in which disabled people can access, travel on and interchange between modes easily and safely. That process of seamless transport starts with access to information about services and cover the infrastructure as well as the vehicles themselves.