Minding the gap between transport for non-disabled and disabled people

Clive Gilbert

Head of Accessible Transport, Policy Connect

The UK has a proud history of improving transport accessibility for disabled people, yet millions still struggle to commute to school, work and meet loved ones.

From the Government-subsidised Motability scheme offering disabled motorists adapted vehicles to station, train and bus redesigns prioritising accessibility, our country boasts one of the most inclusive transport systems.

The successes of the past should be an ideal starting point for further breakthroughs, and yet decades of progress appear to have come to a halt.

Closing the transport gap through policy

The accessible transport charity the Motability Foundation found that disabled people take 38% fewer journeys than non-disabled people. This has been labelled the ‘transport accessibility gap.’ The size of this gap has shown no signs of narrowing over the past 10 years, bucking the historical trend of gradual but continuous improvement in accessibility.

The cross-party Accessible Transport Policy Commission has launched a new Accessible Transport Charter for local councillors and regional mayors. The Commission is part of the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat), which was set up with a seven-year, £20 million grant from the Motability Foundation.

Chaired by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thomspon, the Commission holds regular meetings at the Houses of Parliament to share the ncat’s research with disabled people, transport professionals and politicians to help shape policy.

Disabled people take 38% fewer journeys
than non-disabled people. This has been
labelled the ‘transport accessibility gap.

Guiding local transport accessibility

Local government is where many of the key decisions about the future of transport are made. However, local leaders are constrained in what they alone can achieve by politics, economics and, of course, geography.

Our Accessible Transport Charter sets out practical steps for them to unite around. It commits signatories to help secure disabled people’s champions for key transport decision-making bodies. They also pledge to establish accessibility panels of disabled people at transport providers, integrate accessibility and inclusion into public transport strategies and ensure streets are accessible and free of clutter.

Councillors who sign the Charter can participate in our Commission’s work, beginning with a special event at the end of the year.