Accessibility Specification for Small Buses Designed to Carry 9 to 22 Passengers (Inclusive)

Introduction

1. For some time the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) has been concerned about the standard of accommodation provided for disabled people in many minibuses and other small buses. This is particularly apparent when wheelchairs are carried in minibuses; insufficient space is often provided for both the safety and the comfort of the wheelchair users. However, the features for ambulant disabled people also fall short of the ideal.

2. Currently there is little regulatory guidance in this area for small buses. Accordingly DPTAC has produced the following specifications, through its Bus and Coach Working Group, to promote best practice and encourage improved design and development of more suitable vehicles.

The Vehicles

3. These comprise a very wide range, including van conversions, chassis-built minibuses, and factory-produced mini- and midi-buses. As the term minibus appears to have different meanings to different people, the term Small Bus is used.

4. Small Buses are defined as buses designed to carry 9 to 22 passengers (inclusive).

Types of Use

5. There are nearly 100,000 Small Buses in the UK. A significant proportion is used to transport disabled people, including many vehicles adapted to carry wheelchair users.

6. Small Buses are operated in a number of ways. Some are operated as public transport providing Local Services, including services operated by the voluntary sector under Section 22 permits.

7. Local Authorities operate many, directly or indirectly, for purposes such as Social Services and Education transport.

8. A large number are used for other forms of community transport, and by the "voluntary sector." Some of these operate under Section 19 or Section 22 permits. In addition, other clubs and associations run them for various purposes.

9. Due to this diversity, many do not fall within a strict regulatory framework.

10. Of course, the design and specification of a vehicle is not the only factor in determining how far a service can be deemed to be fully accessible. Other issues that can render a service more or less accessible include: the way that a service is delivered (for example, the length of the journey, the ease with which bookings can be made, and so on); the way in which the vehicle is driven; the help and care given by drivers and assistants to passengers (and the way people are treated in general); the extent of training provided to drivers and assistants. Whilst it is clearly not possible to operate an accessible service with a vehicle that is not physically accessible, it is certainly possible to have an accessible vehicle and use it to run a service that is not at all suitable for people with various forms of mobility impairment.

11. This specification, which deals with the accessibility of the vehicle itself, is therefore part of a larger picture. Other factors influencing accessibility include operating procedures, training, driving skills and passenger assistance.

Legislation

12. There is no all-embracing UK legislation which covers the entire Small Bus sector. There is also currently no regulation covering the carriage of wheelchairs in these vehicles: the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) document VSE 87/1 Code of Practice: "The Safety of Passengers in Wheelchairs on Buses" remains the main guidance available.

13. Proposals for regulations for Small Buses under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) will be considered. However, the scope of this provision is likely to exclude a significant number of Small Buses that may be intended to transport disabled people.

The European Commission also intends to introduce a Directive for the Construction of all buses and coaches, including Small Buses. The timing and detail of these proposals has to be finalised, but should be available before the end of 2001. The Directive will include provisions for passengers with disabilities - in some cases on a mandatory basis, in other cases optional. When complete, the UK will be required to implement the EU requirements in UK regulations.

Scope of the DPTAC Specifications

14. The DPTAC specifications for Small Buses are intended to address all these vehicles that are intended to be used to transport disabled people, irrespective of the vehicle construction.

15. This will include not only those small buses that have been specifically designed to carry people with disabilities, such as Dial-a-Ride, or Special Needs School transport, but also any small bus which provides a service which is open to the general public. This would include all Small Buses operated as public transport, (i.e. those used on Local Services), or nonemergency ambulances and transport for health appointments, for example.

16. The DPTAC specifications are not a statutory requirement. They are intended to promote best practice in meeting the needs of disabled people. It will be a matter for specifiers and operators, such as Local Authorities, to decide whether to adopt the DPTAC specifications on a voluntary basis. Experience with DPTAC specifications for larger buses demonstrates that there will be progressive introduction of DPTAC specifications as a basis for tendering, resulting in vehicles offering both improved access and better travelling conditions.

DPTAC will co-operate with others in the production of operating guidance in the use of small buses.

17. DPTAC welcomes the Government commitment in paragraph 6.5 of "Transport 2010 - the 10 Year Plan for Transport" that public investment in transport will be conditional on accessibility for disabled people being included. DPTAC's strong advice is that local authorities and the devolved administrations should match this commitment, particularly - in the context of this document - when making vehicle procurement decisions.

The Specifications

18. The specifications have been drawn up on the basis of existing guidance, and experience of the DPTAC specifications for larger buses. Important references included Vehicle Standards Engineering (VSE) 87/1, and local guidance documents from West Sussex County Council and the London Accessible Transport Unit, as well as other DPTAC specifications and the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Accessibility Regulations 2000. Such documents have been founded on a wide basis of research, particularly by the DTLR, over many years into the needs of people with disabilities. Additional research was also conducted into such areas as wheelchair sizes, and passengers' views of existing vehicles. There has also been extensive preliminary consultation with a number of bodies and individuals, including users, specifiers, operators and vehicle manufacturers.

19. Due to the rather different operating conditions involved, there are two DPTAC specifications for Small Buses.

A. For Small Buses Not Used on Local Services

20. This specification provides a minimum standard of accessibility for disabled people.

21. There are two parts of this specification - features required by all disabled passengers and additional features required for wheelchair users. The wheelchair access requirements may not be required for all vehicles, only those which are intended and designed to carry wheelchair users. Wheelchair access should ideally be incorporated in all vehicles providing services to the general public, or in any vehicles intended for use by disabled people. Features which assist wheelchair users are also used by ambulant disabled people.

22. This specification is not a Low-Floor specification at this stage. However, it is DPTAC's aim to encourage manufacturers to develop vehicles with easier access, and this specification does include a statement of intent to replace this specification with a Low-Floor specification within a defined timescale.

B. For Small Buses Used on Local Services

23. These are public transport buses, which are available to all the general public. Proposals for regulations for Small Buses under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will be considered.

24. This specification comprises access and travelling facilities for disabled people, including wheelchair users who wish to travel in their own wheelchair.

25. The DPTAC specification for buses used on Local Services is a Low-Floor specification. This is in line with the progress made by manufacturers of larger buses in successfully introducing low-floor buses to the market, with considerable benefits for accessibility for all passengers.

Published: 7 December 2001

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