Annual Report 1998

4. Bus and Coach Working Group

Chairman

Members

Observers

Secretariat

Report

One of the clearly identified needs when DPTAC was first formed was to make mainstream public transport more accessible. The bus still provides two thirds of all public transport journeys. Buses and coaches are therefore a key element of public transport and I like to think DPTAC have achieved a fair amount in the last 10 years. Manufacturers, bus operators and now local authorities all refer to DPTAC when they are confirming vehicle orders and specifications, recognising that accessibility is required of a bus operator providing quality services to the public.

People want to get on and off buses more easily, to feel safe inside the vehicle and to feel that they can travel on public transport without climbing steps into the vehicle and then once on board being thrown around before they reach a seat. Our work and the regulations being brought forward under the Disability Discrimination Act should bring great improvements. Much of the Group's work in 1998 has been focused on advising Ministers on the shape these regulations should take. I understand that almost everything that DPTAC has asked to be included in the regulations will be, but we will continue to press for a requirement for visual and audible information to be provided on all buses announcing stops, diversions and delays.

It is important that bus operators, manufacturers and local authorities are involved in our work and we have representatives of all those on the group. However, our work is not just about drawing up guidelines for vehicle manufacturers and operators.
It is also to a large extent about education: educating the drivers about dealing with disabled passengers and educating managers about vehicle choice, good operating practices and the importance of disability awareness training for staff.

Operators need to know why if they order vehicles that are more accessible it is better for them. Their aim is to attract more passengers, passengers who will stay travelling by bus rather than be put off by it. Accessible vehicles are attractive to disabled and able bodied passengers alike and that can only be of benefit to operators.

There is no doubt that the vast majority of bus operating staff want to please their customers, especially as it makes their life easier. Staff therefore need to understand why better buses are better for them too. We have therefore been working with Transfed and PTEG to have disability awareness training included in NVQ training for the bus and coach industry.

Customers also now need to be educated about how to use new buses, particularly low floor buses, which are very different in design from more traditional vehicles.

This year we set up a Small Vehicles Sub-Committee to draw up a specification and best practice advice for operators of mini-bus style vehicles and small buses. Up to now there has been no comprehensive accessibility guidance for these vehicles and we hope to draw together the work that has been done by other organisations in the past to rectify this. We have also expressed concern to Ministers over the impact of the DETR's seatbelt regulations for small vehicles on the voluntary sector.

TONY KENNAN
Chairman

Bus and Coach Working Group - Work Programme for 1999

To consider the formal Government consultation on draft regulations for Buses and Coaches under the Disability Discrimination Act.

To press for improved training for bus and coach industry staff in disability awareness and communication.

To develop a specification for small vehicles.

To inform DETR's consideration of the role of buses and coaches in the integrated transport policy.

To encourage bus operators to run familiarisation sessions for disabled people when new vehicle types are introduced.

Terms of Reference for the Bus and Coach Working Group (primarily concerned with Public Service Vehicles)

Any reference to DPTAC is to the Main Committee

1. The membership of the Group will be agreed with the Chairman of the Group and the Chairman of the DPTAC. Membership will be limited to no more than twenty members.

2. The membership of the Group will include representatives from disability interests, bus and coach industry - manufacturing and operating - and other appropriate interests.

3. The Group will normally meet at least four times a year.

4. The Chairman of the Group will generally be a full time member of DPTAC and will report on the Group's work to DPTAC.

5. The group will:

a) consider issues affecting elderly and disabled people travelling on buses and coaches.

b) consider requests from DETR and other Government Departments to DPTAC for guidance/advice on policy issues and make recommendations to DPTAC on those issues.

c) undertake such work as they, in consultation with DPTAC, consider necessary to progress the interests of disabled people in relation to bus and coach transport.

d) raise issues, through DPTAC, for consideration by the DETR.

e) draw up guidance and codes of practice, as necessary, for clearance by DPTAC for publication as formal DPTAC advice.

f) provide advice to DPTAC, on consultation papers from Government and other organisations.

g) provide advice to DPTAC in relation to its statutory role in respect of the bus and coach provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

6. All papers submitted to the Group will be confidential to its members and details discussed within the Group should not be discussed with third parties, without prior agreement of the Secretariat.

Published 1 October 1999

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