DISABLED ACCESS

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2014 :: RMTnews 8 The House of Commons transport select committee has warned that the government must work harder to improve accessibility for disabled people across the nation’s transport networks. RMT submitted evidence during the committee’s investigation into post Paralympic travel both in writing and by oral evidence from the general secretary Bob Crow. Recognising that some 11.5 million people already live with a recognised disability and more than a fifth of them experience some difficulty when using transport networks, the committee has concluded that it is essential that the Department for Transport delivers an ambitious Accessibility Action Plan. It was noted that the changes made ahead of the 2012 Paralympic Games delivered access for disabled people to significantly more parts of the public transport network for the first time and highlighted the immense value for all. Yet, a year later, the momentum from London 2012 is being lost because further key accessibility improvements planned by the Department for Transport are been watered- down or abandoned. The committee made several wide ranging recommendations which concluded: BUSES The government’s decision not to require all drivers to have basic training in disability awareness is unacceptable. There should also be a national public awareness campaign to ensure all bus users respect space intended for wheelchair users and financial incentives for bus and coach companies to bring forward the capital investment required to deliver a fully accessible vehicle fleet. Penalties should also be imposed on operators who claim to offer accessible routes but then fail to provide accessible buses. RAIL NETWORK Disabled travellers should not have to book organised assistance in advance, so over time this requirement should be phased out by every train operator. Including disabled people in developing new rail infrastructure should be another key ambition: The DfT must ensure their needs are central to prioritising and developing schemes for the next wave of ‘Access for All’ railway improvements. TAXIS AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES MPs call for financial incentives to encourage investment in fully accessible vehicles by operators, with a target to deliver a fully accessible taxi and private hire fleet within ten years. The committee also recommends the DfT works with licensing authorities and the taxi trade to develop and implement without delay a nationwide programme of disability awareness training for taxis and private hire vehicle drivers. The transport committee also called for the cabinet to convene a working group of ministers and officials to improve cross- government working on accessibility in order to secure the full benefits to be gained from widening disabled people’s access to employment and training, healthcare and wider participation in all parts of society. RMT welcomed this report which rammed the message home to the government that disabled access to transport services is already poor and will get worse if they do not pull back from plans to axe 14,000 guards, station and ticket office staff under their McNulty rail review. Bus services, often the local transport lifeline, also face decimation under this government. The report sends a specific warning to London Mayor Boris Johnson that his personal plans to axe station staff and close ticket offices will turn poor access for disabled passengers on London Underground into no access at all. Both the government and the London Mayor are embarking on transport cuts that will create no-go zones for disabled people by adopting plans that are blatantly discriminatory. Bob Crow said that the core point of the report was the importance of having staffed stations to help all travellers make safe and secure journeys. “RMT will work with disability groups to ensure that this report is used to the full as a campaigning tool as we fight the cuts plans which will leave people with disabilities effectively barred from transport services,” he said. MPs warn access to transport for disabled people still unacceptably poor DISABLED ACCESS?