Priorities for the Use of Bus Transport by Disabled People, Older People and Parents with Young Children in Buggies

In this paper the author discusses that between 35% and 40% of the European Union’s (EU) population has reduced mobility. Reduced mobility includes not only disabled people but also older people and those with heavy shopping, bulky luggage and people with buggies. It is widely acknowledged that the aging demographic profile of the population will have a significant impact on the demand for accessible transport vehicles and infrastructure. Section 40 of the United Kingdom (UK) Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) of 1995 gives the Secretary of State a power to make regulations to ensure that public service vehicles are accessible to disabled people. The government used this power to introduce the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000. The Regulations state that from December 31, 2,000 new single and double deck buses that can carry more than 22 passengers need to be accessible to disabled people, including wheelchair users. The number of bus and light rail passenger journeys in England was nearly 4.9 billion in 2008/9. The new generation of low floor buses has improved access not only for wheelchair users but also people with other mobility difficulties, people with small children in buggies, and those carrying heavy shopping or luggage. The demands for the accessible space on low floor buses can exceed supply on certain routes and/or at times when the buses are especially busy.