Disability Rights UK welcomes the report issued today by Bususers UK which highlights the many problems and barriers faced by Disabled People using our fractured bus services.
The report titled ‘ Why are we waiting’ is available on the Bususers UK website. Their key findings relate to Infrastructure, Bus design, Information, Bus drivers, and Passengers interaction. Bususers are clear that improving transport accessibility requires collaboration between all stakeholders within the transport industry, local authorities, central government and local communities.
Stephen Brookes, Transport Policy Adviser of Disability Rights UK, said ‘We are pleased to collaborate with Bususers and in our work we agree with and reinforce the simple but critical fact that it is vital to involve Disabled people in the design and procurement stages of bus and service design to try to ensure consistent bus designs across different regions, which otherwise hinders accessibility and independence’.
Buses play a significant role in enabling Disabled passengers to be independent and they are vital to mobility but the realities of the bus services available often fall short of Disabled people’s expectations for reliable and accessible local transport. Evidence shows that some Disabled people have serious concerns about bus travel and on average, Disabled passengers had lower levels of satisfaction with bus services.
As Bususers note the Rights of Passengers in Bus and Coach Transport Regulation 2019 makes it a requirement that no passenger can be refused, or charged extra for, travel as long as transporting them complies with UK safety standards.
Bususers state that all drivers must receive disability awareness and assistance training and information on the journey. It is also a requirement that passengers know how to make a complaint, and the rights of passengers must be available and accessible.