Annual Report 2006-2007

C: Activities and Achievements in 2006-2007

15. In this section we set out our main activities and achievements over the past year, taken forward within each of DPTAC's eight working groups.

Aviation

16. We continued our work developing a specification for an on-board wheelchair. This included a full ergonomic testing of a mock up of our specification in aircraft using disabled people. It helped us to ensure that the specification that we publish is fit for purpose in the light of the experience of disabled people themselves.

17. We finalised the text of our ambitious task of developing a specification for making aircraft toilets more accessible to disabled people. The illustrative material that will form part of the published specification is being prepared with the aim to publish the full specification later in 2008.

18. In addition, we have worked closely with the Government and the industry on the implementation of the European Regulation: The Rights of Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility when Travelling by Air. Under the Regulation, carriers will not be able to refuse boarding to disabled people except in carefully defined circumstances. Airport operators will be responsible for providing assistance to disabled passengers. They will then be able to reclaim relevant costs from each airlines according to the total number of passengers the airline transports.

19. We have played a key role in a DfT Working Group revising voluntary Air Access Code in the light of the European Regulation, and have been working with the BAA and other airport operators to ensure that they are well prepared for their new responsibilities.

20. DPTAC responded to the Department for Transport's Mobility and Inclusion consultation on the impact of aviation security measures on disabled people following the UK aviation security alerts. The DfT continually reviewed the measures and consulted with the Mobility and Inclusion Unit.

21. The Chair attended the meetings of the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) PRM sub-group. The group discussed, among other issues:

• the development of training guidelines for airport and airline staff on handling disabled passengers, being drafted by the European Disability Forum (EDF);
• the operational rules (JAR-OPS) for airlines. The aim is to promote consistent interpretation of the rules by airline pilots and to ensure decisions that adversely affect disabled passengers' ability to travel are based on proper risk assessment of individual passengers and their needs rather than ignorance or prejudice;
• the European definitions of 'assistance dogs'; and
• updates on the US Notice of Proposed Rule Making, which extends US laws to non-US airlines.

Buses, coaches and community transport

22. The Working Group redrafted its Small Bus Specification by harmonising the standards for buses not used on local services with those used on local services, requiring them all to be low floor.

23. Through sitting on its advisory panel, we advised the Department for Transport on the introduction, from April 2008 in England, of a free national bus concessionary scheme. We also presented evidence to the Transport Select Committee. Whilst we welcomed the introduction of a free national scheme, we argued strongly for a change in policy. The only means of providing an equitable concessionary scheme for disabled people living in rural areas and smaller towns is through extending concessionary fares to other modes of transport such as: community transport/dial-a-ride; taxis/private hire vehicles; and local train services.

24. We met the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) to try and persuade them to encourage their members to purchase vehicles, complying with the Public Sector Vehicle Accessibility Regulations, before the 2017 deadline. CPT reminded us that their members had already met their voluntary target agreed with the Department for Transport for 2010. They also thought that, given the current economic climate, operators would struggle to make a business case to replace buses ahead of schedule.

25. Transport for London has started a two year programme to fit all of its buses with audio-visual announcements. This will make buses more accessible for those with sensory impairments and people unfamiliar with the route. If successful, we will use TfL's example to try and persuade the DfT to introduce regulations requiring audio-visual announcements throughout the England (and Wales) bus fleet.

26. The Group was also represented on the Department's Manual for Streets working group and were able to make significant contributions to the final text.

27. We broadly welcomed the publication of the Department for Transport's Putting Passengers First. We contributed to the consultation and spoke at the Transport Select Committee. This is a precursor to the White Paper being published in autumn 2007 and has some good ideas on improving bus services and take-up rates. Significantly, it also has some positive ideas on community transport.

Education and training

28. The Group awarded the Centre for Employment and Disadvantage Studies (CEDS) a contract to produce a training framework and generic principles for disability equality and awareness training for transport staff, and to identify training solutions that address the fear of crime on public transport. This is an important project. The attitude of transport staff is often cited as a contributory factor affecting disabled people using public transport. Improved training in meeting the needs of disabled people should enable more disabled people to travel by public transport, and enjoy the experience. Obviously, any measure that reduces the fear of crime is a positive step. Although the project is in its infancy, it is progressing well.

29. We also continued with our exciting Designing Everyone In project, developing teaching materials for Design and Technology teachers for use with 11-14 year olds. This adds to the resources already produced for primary schools. Children will learn all about inclusive environments and how they benefit everyone. Resources for primary school teachers are already available as a free download from: www.dptac.gov.uk/education/ or from www.data.org.uk.

30. Another of our objectives is to support the aims of the Tomar Resolution. This was adopted by the Council of Europe in early 2001 to promote the introduction of the principles of universal design into the curricula of all occupations working on the built environment. While the Royal Institute of British Architects has taken positive steps, generally the institutions representing professionals working in transport and the built environment have yet to embrace the aims and objectives of the Tomar Resolution.

31. We will continue to try to encourage the professional institutes to require inclusive design to be a mandatory element of the curricula on professional courses. We will also continue to encourage the Government to promote and monitor the Tomar Resolution.

Maritime transport

32. A major part of our work for this year has been taking forward recommendations from the research we conducted into how effective our good practice guidance on the design of large passenger ships and passenger infrastructure had been in helping the shipping industry make their services more accessible to disabled people. This research recommended that the structure and the content of the document be reviewed and updated.

33. We set up short-life working groups taking forward guidance on portside issues and design issues on board ships to produce a comprehensive document, which we hope will be an easy-to-use, good practice guidance tool giving practical advice to the shipping industry on inclusive design and how to improve the accessibility of all services provided at ports and on board the ships. We will consult on the draft guidance for eventual publication and dissemination throughout the industry.

34. We participated in a stakeholder meeting held in Brussels to discuss the outcome of the European Union consultation response to the proposal for strengthening the protection of rights of persons with reduced mobility (PRMs) travelling by sea and inland waterways. During debate on the issue of whether there should be regulation or voluntary codes of guidance to protect the rights of PRMs, there was a call for more research into evidence on the extent to which facilities for PRMs are being provided for on ships and at ports. We were able to reinforce the view during the meeting that strong regulations are needed to protect the rights of PRMs. This was based on evidence from research carried out by DPTAC in 2005, that the voluntary code of practice to provide accessible service and provisions to meet the needs of disabled people was only partially being met by the shipping and port industry.

35. We expect that the European Union will consult on draft legislative proposals to protect the rights of disabled people travelling by sea.

Olympics

36. In recognition of the successful UK bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games in London and selected venues across the country, we have set up an Olympic Working Group, which held its first meeting in January 2007. This group aims to maintain an overarching view on the transport plans for the Olympics and Paralympics, keeping in close contact with the other working groups for input about specific modes of transport.

37. In February we issued a response on the draft Olympic Transport Plan, and responded to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) on its draft Accessible Transport Strategy. This was a thorough and detailed response to a document of more than 200 pages that was particularly wide ranging in scope over both different types of transport and a wide geographical area.

38. We attended a number of meetings of the Interim Access Panel, which considered both transport and built environment issues, and were invited to take part in the ODA's Transport Access Panel, which was due to replace it in 2007 in respect of transport access issues.

39. Olympic issues are likely to be an increasingly important theme of DPTAC's work over the next few years, and we are pleased to have been able to make such a significant impact at such an early stage.

Personal mobility and local authorities

40. The Department for Transport published a new Manual for Streets at the end of March 2007. This Manual, which replaces Design Bulletin 32, is the basis upon which developers, planners, architects and highway engineers are now expected to design residential streets and footways in new developments. DPTAC has worked closely with the Department to ensure that the Manual presented a fully inclusive approach to the design and implementation of the transport environment. The document has since been acclaimed as being the most inclusive guidance so far published on this subject.

41. Our position statement on road user charging has proved timely in the light of subsequent initiatives by central and local government in the development of road pricing schemes. We have also started considering footway or pavement parking and the provision of disabled parking bays in residential areas.

42. Our research into design standards for Home Zones and how they reflect on the needs of disabled people is nearing completion. The conclusions will inform guidance on what should help to make Home Zones more inclusive. We have also been working closely with The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association on their related study into the use of shared surfaces.

43. We welcomed the new laws for the operation of the Blue Badge parking scheme, which came into effect in September 2006 and which introduced powers for police officers, traffic wardens, local authority parking attendants and civil enforcement officers to check the photographs on the parking badges to make sure they were being used by the people entitled to use them. This followed concern over abuse of the Blue Badge scheme, which was one of the key factors behind the review of the scheme and the subsequent acceptance by the Government of many of the recommendations of DPTAC.

44. DPTAC have continued to pursue and advise the Government on further amendments to the scheme.

45. The Working Group has responded to a number of consultations, including:

• Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004;
• Provisions on Parking Policy for Service Areas and Other Roadside Facilities on Motorways and All-Purpose Trunk Roads in England;
• Revised charges for the Dartford-Thurrock River Crossing;
• The Second Three Year Review of the Department for Transport's Road Safety Strategy;
• Blue Badge scheme revisions in Scotland (Scottish Executive);
• Town Centre Guide (Department for Communities and Local Government); and
• Residential Streets Guide (Department for Communities and Local Government).

46. Finally, but by no means least, we have taken a keen interest in and have been monitoring the development of Disability Equality Schemes by central government departments and by local authorities as required under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

Rail

47. Following on from preparatory work in 2005-2006, DPTAC was invited to the launch and subsequent implementation of the DfT 'Access for All' strategy. The Chair of the Working Group sits on the Industry Steering and Technical Policy Groups, ensuring best value and equitable national distribution of the additional investment for disabled passengers.

48. At a strategic level, we were invited to take part in several round-table meetings by the then Secretary of State to discuss current and future rail issues, and these fed into the development of the rail strategy announced after the period of this report.

49. We continue to take part in a large number of regular consultative forums, including the National Level Crossing Safety Group (RSSB), meeting with the head of accessibility at the Association of Train Operating Companies, Passenger Focus and the Office of the Rail Regulator.

50. One off conferences and presentations during the year included a Rail Safety and Standards Board Crowding Study, visits to view new rolling stock at Ashford and Derby, assisting the DRC with their transport guidance and work on the upcoming European Technical Standards for Interoperability.

51. The Mobility and Inclusion Unit consulted DPTAC on an increasing number of Stations Code of Practice dispensation requests. We looked at 68 requests from a number of different train operating companies. DPTAC have made progress towards developing a template approach to these dispensations to provide clarity for members and train companies.

52. We have a duty to comment on Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulation exemption requests. Those that we dealt with over the year included Gatwick Express, South West Trains, Birmingham Airport (Rail-Air Link), Central Trains, Docklands Light Railway, Heathrow Express and London Underground Jubilee Line. Only two exemptions required a positive process involving both Houses of Parliament.

53. We also held meetings and site visits in respect of the St Pancras and Stratford International stations. The situation at St Pancras station was encouraging after a very poor beginning, with the developers taking on board a number of DPTAC's recommendations, especially in relation to visual impairment issues and platform heights. However, we still needed to resolve a number of issues at Stratford International station and have been unable to arrange a visit to Ebbsfleet. Outside the time frame of this report, our advice was enthusiastically sought and listened to in the fit-out of the new Thameslink Box station.

54. We also visited the mock up of the new Hitachi Hi-Speed Train that will form the new Kent Express service operating out of St Pancras station. This new train will form the Javelin service part of the service provision for the 2012 Olympics. We commented on various issues about the design and operation of the new stock.

55. We were involved in a major consultation from the Department for Transport on proposed changes to the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations. Proposed changes would include an enforcement regime, penalty criteria and changes in required Parliamentary procedures. We also responded to the Passenger Focus Draft Corporate Plan 2006-09.

56. Other developments included advising London Underground on their plans to upgrade Victoria Underground station ticket halls and entrances, the re-launch of the Disabled Persons Railcard (a subject on which we also gave media interviews, welcoming the extension of eligibility to a wider range of disabled people).

Taxis and private hire vehicles

57. From December 2006, the exemption in respect of land based transport from Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 was removed. At the same time, under the DDA 2005, the Government also introduced the Disability Equality Duty requiring local authorities to consider the needs of disabled people in everything they do. We wanted to know how prepared local licensing authorities were to meet their new obligations, so we sent them all a questionnaire.

58. We were pleased with the response rate. However, results were mixed. Many of the authorities were aware of their duties and had implemented appropriate policies. Worryingly, a large number of the respondents were unaware they were covered by the new duties.

59. The Group continued to advise the Department for Transport on improving taxi accessibility. We responded to their informal consultation issued to all key stakeholders on the subject. We advised the Department that, if it was not possible to introduce technical specifications for a fully accessible taxi, the best way of meeting the conflicting needs of wheelchair users and ambulant disabled people would be through a mixed fleet. We recommended that at least 50% of a licensing authority's fleet would have to be wheelchair accessible and this should be achieved over a specified period.

60. The Group was also represented on the 'GoSkills' Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle steering group, developing a training framework for drivers.

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