Providing Access for the Disabled to Public Transport Facilities and Buildings – Role of the Swedish Board of Transport

This paper describes how, in connection with the transport policy mandated in 1979 a new authority, the Swedish Board of Transport was established to deal with the questions concerning overall transport planning. Of special interest is the adaptation of public transport to the needs of the disabled persons. The Board of Transport was assigned a coordinative responsibility which includes the planning, the initiation and the follow-up of this adaptation. The Board’s coordinated role is expressed through the issuing of directives that are binding on transport enterprises and supervisory authorities on the following: (1) buses; (2) locomotive-hauled carriages; (3) trams; (4) underground railway carriages; (5) vessels; (6) motorcoach trains; and (7) commuter trains.