26 October 2004
VIEWS SOUGHT ON MORE ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT
The Department for Regional Development (DRD) wants your views on how transport can be made more accessible. The Department published today a draft Accessible Transport Strategy that aims to improve access to the transport system for older people and people with disabilities.
Older people and people with disabilities make up a significant proportion of the Northern Ireland population and they can face a number of barriers when trying to make full use of the transport system. Transport accessibility is about providing transport services, infrastructure and information that provides for equitable access.
The prospects for an accessible transport future have been greatly enhanced through the introduction of accessibility regulations, which were brought about by the Disability Discrimination Act. New buses and trains must now meet standards that are designed to ensure that people with disabilities can get on and off vehicles in safety and without unreasonable difficulty and, in the case of wheelchair users, to do so whilst remaining in their wheelchairs.
Other factors influencing accessibility include operating procedures, training, driving skills and passenger assistance and information.
John Spellar, MP, Minister for Regional Development said that a ‘whole of journey’ approach is at the heart of the development of an accessible transport network.
"If older people and people with disabilities are to have confidence in an accessible transport system it is imperative that services are reliable and delivered in a consistent way. When things go wrong, as they sometimes do, there must be procedures in place to allow passengers to complete their journey without undue inconvenience."
The Minister said: "This Strategy is offered for discussion. We particularly welcome views from older people and people with disabilities. We would also encourage all organisations who work with older people and people with disabilities to ask their members or clients what they think and include these as part of their submission. These comments will help the Department improve and finalise the Strategy."
The consultation period for the draft Accessible Transport Strategy will end on 19 January 2004 and the Department aims to publish the final ATS by March 2005.
The DRD project team are working closely with Age Concern, the Community Transport Association and Disability Action to make sure that the document is circulated widely and contributions are encouraged. As part of the consultation process the ATS Team has also planned five regional workshops in November to present the draft strategy and receive initial feedback.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The Accessible Transport Strategy stems form the Regional Transportation Strategy and has been developed in the context of the Priorities and Budget 2004 – 2006 that continues in the policy direction established by the Programme for Government. It has been prepared against the background of the wider transportation policy in Great Britain and the European Union.
- In February DRD published an "Issues Paper" on Developing and Accessible Transport Strategy for Northern Ireland and a report in September 2004 on the outcome of the first phase of consultation. Both publications can be obtained on DRD’s website www.drdni.gov.uk/ats or by contacting the project team by email atsinfo@drdni.gov.uk or by telephone 028 9054 0186.
- Achieving an accessible transport system will depend, among other things, on the availability of public funds to implement particular initiatives and maintain existing commitments. The level of public expenditure for the Strategy will be determined through the normal budgetary process, which will take account of the financial needs of other Departments and decisions on priorities.
- For media queries contact Paddy Cullen or Ann Williamson at the DRD Press Office on (028) 9054 0007/0372.
Click here to print this press release.
