News Release (06 October 2004):
New website offers key to accessible travel
Today the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) launches its new Door to Door website to give disabled people information and advice about all aspects of transport and travel.
Speaking today at the launch in Manchester, Neil Betteridge Chair of DPTAC explained how the site came about.
"Our recent research 'Attitudes of Disabled People to Public Transport' showed that the lack of high quality, accurate information is a major barrier for disabled people accessing public transport - over a third of those responding stated that they would travel more often if they had access to better information. When we joined forces with Tripscope our aim was to bridge this information gap. We believe we have developed an easy to use website which provides a single comprehensive source of information and advice to disabled people on all aspects of planning and making journeys."
The website can be found at www.dptac.gov.uk/door-to-door. It will be of benefit to both professional advisors and experienced travellers who just want to keep up to date with the latest information and advances in accessibility as well as those less experienced travellers who are perhaps considering making a journey independently for the first time. Door to Door also acts as a 'signposting' site directing visitors to other relevant organisations for more information and advice via direct web-links.
The Secretary of State for Transport was amongst the first to welcome the Door to Door website, in a message of support, the Rt. Hon Alistair Darling MP said:
"The Government has set out its commitment to making public transport accessible to all disabled people. There have been real advances and improvements and therefore I am delighted that DPTAC's new Door to Door website will tell people about the improvements in access to transport and help disabled people make informed choices about travel."
Bert Massie CBE, Chairman of the Disability Rights Commission joined the congratulations, saying:
"For most disabled people, travel involves forethought, planning and a great deal of information. Even discovering the questions to ask, let alone the answers can be stressful. That's why I warmly welcome this new website. It has been designed by people who know the issues and how to get them across. It will be a huge boon to millions of disabled people who want to travel without the hassle."
DPTAC are hoping that the website will also raise disabled people's awareness of the availability of accessible transport.
During the launch Neil Betteridge pointed out that:
"One of the complaints we often hear from travel operators is that even when facilities are put in place they are often still not used. This is often just down to lack of awareness - if disabled people don't know that accessible facilities and services exist they can't use them. Hopefully the Door to Door website will help solve this problem, by encouraging disabled people and give them confidence to use public transport."
During the development of Door to Door, DPTAC and Tripscope held extensive user trials at the Mobility Roadshows in Donington and Edinburgh earlier this summer.
Describing this process, Neil Betteridge said:
"It is important that Door to Door is being developed in partnership with its users, as a website is only worthwhile if it gives people the information they want and need in a format that they can easily use and understand."
The feedback from the roadshows was extremely positive and constructive, Comments received included:
"Excellent resource, Wish I'd known about this when I became disabled, it would have saved me lots of time and energy."
"Brilliant, it will provide a much needed one stop resource for disabled people and their carers."
"This site should be mentioned and promoted to all newly disabled people - it contains all the information I toiled to discover the hard way."
"Can't wait for the site to be launched."
Notes for Editors:
1. DPTAC's new transport and travel advice website for disabled and less mobile people will be available from 6 October 2004 at: www.dptac.gov.uk/door-to-door.
2. Door to Door was officially launched at the DPTAC Main Committee Meeting in Manchester.
3. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) was set up under the Transport Act 1985 to advise the Government and industry on the transport needs of disabled people. In 2000, its role was extended on a non-statutory basis, to advise the Government on the built environment needs of disabled people.
4. Neil Betteridge was appointed Chair of DPTAC in 2003, the committee, which has a maximum of 20 members (of whom at least half must be disabled people), representing a wide range of transport interests, provides expert advice on a broad range of transport and built environment issues aimed at improving access for disabled people. Members are appointed by Ministers and are unpaid, apart from the reimbursement of expenses.
5. For further information on the Door to Door website and/or DPTAC contact Andy Kirby the DPTAC Secretary:
Tel: 020 7944 8012
Postal: DPTAC Secretariat, 1/14 Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR
Email: dptac@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.dptac.gov.uk
6. Tripscope is the UK's main travel advice and transport information service for disabled people. Tripscope's advice covers all aspects of travel and transport, locally and further afield in the UK and beyond. The service is provided free of charge by staff with a personal understanding of the needs of disabled people.
7. For further information on Tripscope:
Tel: 08457 58 56 41 (local rate helpline)
Postal: The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Bristol BS16 2QQ
Email: enquiries@tripscope.org.uk
Website: www.tripscope.org.uk
8. Door to Door is available in Text Only version and will be shortly available in an easy to use version for people with learning disabilities. Hard copies of the website will also be available in alternative formats on request from the DPTAC Secretariat.
9. Door to Door user trials were held at the Mobility Roadshow at Donington Park, near Derby (17 - 19 June) and the Scottish Mobility Roadshow at the Highland Centre, Ingliston, near Edinburgh (9 - 10 July).
10. The "Attitudes of Disabled People to Public Transport" report was prepared for DPTAC by MORI in 2002. It is available on line at: www.dptac.gov.uk/research/apt/index.htm. Contact the DPTAC Secretariat for more details.
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