Scotland must do better on public transport, says report

A disability charity has called on the Scottish government and transport providers to improve accessible travel in Scotland.

Leonard Cheshire Disability said in a new report that access barriers on Scottish public transport often made it very difficult for disabled people to carry out their day-to-day routines.

Over two-thirds of those surveyed claimed to have missed a social activity due to lack of accessible transport, and 41 per cent said they had had to turn down a job offer because it was too diffcult to get to work.

Leonard Cheshire’s policy and parliamentary officer for Scotland, Ryan McQuigg, said: “Because so much of Scotland is rural, in some areas transport is only hourly so accessibility is a vital tool.”

The Mind the gap: the next step report called for disability equality training for all frontline public transport staff, for transport providers to meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act, and for a government-led public awareness campaign on accessible transport.

The publication of the report came as rail minister Tom Harris MP announced that five Scottish rail stations would receive money from Scotland’s share of the Department for Transport’s £370m Access for All funding, which aims to improve accessibility across the UK’s rail network between 2006 and 2015.

Stations in Easterhouse, Hyndland, Linlithgow, Montrose and Perth will undergo significant improvements to try to ensure obstacle-free, accessible routes into and between platforms.              

Mr McQuigg welcomed the new money and said: “This financial shot in the arm means the government is definitely listening.

“The changes will illustrate the win/win results of improving accessibility, not just for disabled people but for everyone.”

Mr Harris also launched a new code of practice on accessible train and station design for disabled passengers, which aims to provide a single set of design standards across the rail network.

He said: “It will establish a basic level of accessibility right across the rail network.

“It provides a clear set of standards that disabled passengers can expect to be met and the examples of best practice will show operators how they can go the extra mile in helping passengers with reduced mobility.” 

*For more information on the code of practice and the access for all scheme, visit www.dft.gov.uk