Title

Skills and attitude: accessible service in public transportation

Authors

Jouko Kunnas

Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

2007

Subject Area

Mobility - Disabled, Mobility - Mobility impaired, Mobility - Wheelchair, Population - Elderly, Transport programs - Travel training

Abstract

The transportation infrastructure and equipment have improved, but a lot of obstacles remain. Professional skills and positive attitudes of the transportation personnel play often a key role in providing all people equal opportunities to move around, meet people and participate in society. The Ministry of Transport and Communications Finland invited a working group, including representatives of the transportation industry, members of the disabled and elderly people’s organizations as well as officials from both government and provincial organs. The Group was assigned to examine systematically the needs for information and attitude questions, through which it will be possible to support accessibility. The group was also asked to improve the contents and provision of professional and supplementary training, encourage passengers with reduced mobility and function to use public transportation, plan educational material as well as suggest new forms of cooperation between providers of transportation and customers. The Group produced learning material to be used in vocational education and in-service training. A booklet was published with a supporting overhead slide set. The emphasis on written material was on developing skills and knowledge. To improve attitudes, a DVD video was commissioned from one of the leading PR video company in Finland. It consists six chapters: prologue, four units focusing in buses, taxis, trains and airline transportation, followed by a conclusion. Each of the chapters may be viewed and also updated separately. The Group has also established a web based resource of specialist trainers. They are disabled people who have previous experience as educators or trainers. Public transportation operators are encouraged to contact these people and arrange on-the-job training sessions. The ministry has supported a meeting that was organized to “back up” the trainers, but the main responsibility for the continuity of this resource lies within the disabled people’s organizations. The learning material has been popular, and especially the DVD video has been appreciated. The trainer resource has been launched and a few training sessions have been realized. In the future, one of the questions will be how to ensure the continuing supply and updating of the learning material. In its final report, the Group made suggestions concerning education of transport professionals, improvement of cooperation between various user groups and the organizations responsible of transportation infrastructure. The Group also suggested founding of a permanent national organ to support accessibility and inclusion in transportation. The provincial accessibility working groups will actively follow up the implementation of national recommendations and state of education, and generally support activities towards improving the accessibility of the transportation system. In local administration, accessibility issues will be tackled together with traffic safety and public transportation issues. The Group had also started preparations to establish a prize for projects that have improved accessibility in public environment or transport infrastructure. In transport companies and institutions in charge of the maintenance and construction of the infrastructure, accessibility will be introduced as part of quality systems.

Rights

Permission to publish given by TRANSED 2007.