Title

Priorities for the use of bus transport by disabled people, older people and parents with young children in buggies

Document Type

Conference Paper

Publication Date

10-2009

Subject Area

Location - UK, Infrastructure - Low Floor, Population - Elderly, Population - Parents with young children, Mobility - Disabled, Mobility - Wheelchair

Abstract

Between 35% and 40% of the European Union’s population has reduced mobility and included in that definition are not only disabled people but also older people and those with heavy shopping, bulky luggage and people with buggies. It is widely acknowledged that the ageing demographic profile of the population will have a significant impact on the demand for accessible transport vehicles and infrastructure. Section 40 of the UK Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 gives the Secretary of State a power to make regulations to ensure that public service vehicles are accessible to disabled people. The government used this power to introduce the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000. The Regulations state that from 31 December 2000 new single and double deck buses that can carry more than 22 passengers need to be accessible to disabled people, including wheelchair users. For new coaches and smaller buses the requirement for wheelchair access applied from January 2005. The Regulations require regulated vehicles to be fitted with not less than one wheelchair space. The area in the bus on general bus services that is designated for wheelchair use is often also identified as space for buggies and the availability of low floor buses has encouraged people with buggies to travel without the inconvenience of having to get their small child out of the buggy and fold it. The wheelchair and buggy space also frequently has flip-down seating which can be used by any passenger but these passengers may be reluctant to move to allow a wheelchair or buggy to occupy this space. In relation to signage, the Regulations state that there should be a sign on or near the flipped down or folding seats stating ‘please give up this seat for a wheelchair user or words of equivalent meaning’. The number of bus and light rail passenger journeys in England was nearly 4.9billion in 2008/9. The new generation of low floor buses has improved access not only for wheelchair users but also people with other mobility difficulties, people with small children in buggies, and those carrying heavy shopping or luggage. The demands for the accessible space on low floor buses can exceed supply on certain routes and/or at times when the buses are especially busy.

Comments

Permission to publish abstract given by AET.