Press Release (07 November 2007):
DPTAC launches revised Small Bus Specification

This afternoon Neil Betteridge, DPTAC Chair, launched the revised Small Bus Specification at the Community Transport Association's Conference at Manchester's GMEX.

The revised Specification is designed to harmonise standards for buses not used on local services with those used on local services by recommending they too should be low floor. The original guidance, published in 2001, recommended separate specifications for these services. DPTAC did not believe the time was right then to require industry to adopt the higher standards for buses not used on local services. However, the Committee stated its intention to publish new guidance in 2007 with a low floor specification for all small buses. This it has now done.

Launching the revised Specification Neil Betteridge said, "The case for low floor design is a strong one. In this day and age it should be unacceptable for wheelchair users to require a lift just to board a bus. Recent research published by the Transport Research Laboratory show most disabled people, not just who use a wheelchair, found low floor buses easier to board than those fitted with a lift".

Copies of the revised Specification are available free of charge from DPTAC, 4/24 Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR or from our website at www.dptac.gov.uk/pubs/smallbus2007/index.htm.

Notes to editors

1: The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) was set up under the Transport Act of 1985 to advise Government on the transport needs of all disabled people. It has a maximum of 20 members (of whom at least half must be disabled people), representing a wide range of transport interests. Members are appointed by Ministers and are unpaid, apart from the reimbursement of expenses.

2: For further information, contact Jimi Adeleye at DPTAC Secretariat on 020 7944 3529, fax 020 7944 6998 or email dptac@dft.gsi.gov.uk.

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