29.10.19
£2m investment to make buses more accessible for disabled passengers
Today it was announced that buses across Great Britain are set to be made more accessible for disabled passengers following a new partnership with the Real Time Information Group (RTIG).
The group, which is set to work alongside the Department for Transport, supports good practice in the use of communications technology on public transport. £2 million will be allocated to small bus operators for audible and visible on-board information.
With around 50% of public transport journeys made on buses, this funding will help to ensure that passengers can board more buses with greater confidence, knowing there they are and when to get off.
It coincides with the launch of the ‘It’s everyone’s journey’ campaign, the first stage of a new government backed inactivate to highlight the part we can all play in improving disabled people’s experiences when using public transport.
One in five people in the UK are disabled and the improvements being made are in hope that travel will be made easier for them. The department is now calling on charities, transport operators and commercial organisation to join the campaign.
The fund for the provision of audio and visual information on-board buses was announced as part of the government’s Inclusive Transport Strategy which aims to provide equal access to the transport network by 2030.
Operators of local bus services are likely to be required to have audio and visible information systems in their vehicles, and this funding is envisioned to assist small operators which might find this costly to implement.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “It is unacceptable that people still feel they cannot travel by bus, because of a lack of basic route and destination information on board local bus services.
This partnership is the next step in ensuring that passengers have the information they need to travel confidently on local bus services throughout Great Britain.
However, we know there is more to do which is why I’m delighted we’re also launching our It’s everyone’s journey campaign today and I invite as many partners as possible to join up so that everyone has equal access to public transport.”