Public Transport Accessibility for People with Reduced Mobility: Economic Outlook

Many organizing authorities as well as operators are sensing the need, or even perhaps the obligation, to make public transport more widely accessible to people with reduced mobility. In the light of this observation, International Association of Public Transport's (UITP)Transport Economics Commission used the results of a members survey to assess the economic outlook for improving the accessibility of public transport networks. The results of the survey that was conducted in 2004, indicate a degree of convergence as regards the evolution of policies and regulations. All networks claim to have a progressive policy on improving accessibility for people with reduced mobility (PRM), but tough regulations on PRM accessibility is enforced for only half the members answering the questionnaire. Netherlands and Switzerland are alone in having set themselves a deadline for full accessibility. Generally speaking, it is transport organizing authorities that set out the main thrusts of policies to improve accessibility, but associations representing disabled people play a major role in defining and monitoring accessibility policies. The paper concludes that it is reasonable to assert that policies currently in force ensure the integration of specifications relating to accessibility for all.