Attitudes of disabled people to public transport:
Research study

Executive Summary

Transport issues are important to disabled peoples lives - being the single most prominent concern at the local level. Pavement and road maintenance generate the most dissatisfaction, along with access for disabled people to transport vehicles and the frequency of public transport.

Disabled people travel a third less often than the general public. Disabled people drive cars a lot less and are less likely to have one in the household. Despite this, cars are central to disabled people's mobility in England and Wales, with the most common mode of transport being a car driven by someone else. Disabled people use buses, taxis and minicabs more often than the general public. There are also encouraging signs that disabled people will use public transport even more if improvements are made.

Disabled people would particularly welcome their views being taken into account in the implementation of transport services. At present, disabled people feel that local and central government, planners and mainstream transport operators are not properly considering their needs. Some disabled people would like the opportunity to work alongside these decision-makers and become more involved in future transport issues, as DPTAC does on national transport policy.

It is important to note that disabled people are not a homogenous group, nor are their transport needs and priorities the same across England and Wales. Therefore, plans will need to reflect local priorities - although solutions should be based on national standards, developed with validated research into user needs.

This summary provides an overview of the attitudes of disabled people to public transport as a whole across England and Wales.

The main differences between disabled people with different impairments are drawn out in the remainder of the document where relevant, as well as pointing to any consistent concerns among all disabled people.

How important is transport to disabled people?

• Transport issues head disabled people's local concerns, with more people mentioning transport-related issues than any other category, including crime, health and social services, local facilities or community issues.
• Transport concerns differ little from those of the population as a whole - for example, frequency and reliability of public transport, traffic congestion and the shortage of car parking.
• Pavement and road maintenance are seen as an essential issue to address.
• Disabled people also have a number of specific priorities focusing on the design of vehicles and access to public transport - getting to remote bus stops and train stations and once there getting on public transport vehicles.

How do disabled people currently use the transport system?

• Disabled people travel a third less often than the general public. However, while they drive far less often, they use taxis/minicabs and buses more often.
• The most frequently used mode of transport overall is a car driven by someone else.
• Despite disabled people not using the car as frequently as the general public and the majority having no car in the household, many consider private cars to be the only form of transport that is convenient and accessible.
• Almost half of disabled people use some initiative for disabled people to make travel easier.

How do disabled people find out about travel information?

• Telephone inquiry services are the most widely used means of obtaining journey information, in line with the general population.
• Telephone inquiry services are also a popular choice for the future, along with printed timetables delivered through the door. Wheelchair users and Londoners are keen on new technology to access future travel information.
• A considerable proportion (13%) do not find it easy to get information on any kind of travel service. Overall, 39% feel well informed during journeys and 48% do not.
• Despite this, 39% agree that if it were easier to get information about public transport services, they would use public transport services more.

What are the transport priorities of disabled people?

• In many respects the transport priorities of disabled people differ very little from the general population as a whole - frequent and reliable services.
• However, in addition to more frequent services, more comfortable services and lower cost services, improving access for disabled people is a key priority.
• Many priorities also relate to the 'softer' aspects - the way in which services are delivered rather than the actual services themselves. In particular, improving attitudes of transport staff is perceived as a key issue.
• In terms of convenience and ease of use, taxis and minicabs are rated the most highly with rail services the worst.

How can disabled people be encouraged to use transport more?

• There are many things that government, planners and transport operators can do to encourage greater use of public transport.
• For buses, frequency and access for disabled people are the key issues. For rail services, lowering fares is the top priority overall.
• Among those with concessionary fare passes, cost of travel on buses is considered good by 62% as opposed to 44% overall. The difference on trains is substantially less.
• Not surprisingly, cheaper fares would also encourage greater use of taxis and minicabs.
• Improvements in walking conditions are desired by all disabled people and around half say they would go out more if improvements are made.
• Around half of disabled people say improvements in public transport would have a positive impact on their life.

What is the future transport system expected to be like?

• Sixty per cent of disabled people believe that the people responsible for planning and development of public transport and the pedestrian environment pay too little attention to their needs - and a further 21% 'don't know'.
• However, disabled people have high expectations for the future public transport system. The balance of opinion clearly expect improvements in the quality and performance of bus and train services and the integration of modes. They also expect consideration of disabled people's needs to be factored into the design of public transport vehicles and services.
• Despite the high expectations for the future transport system, disabled people - like the general public as a whole - are currently unconvinced that the necessary investment is being made in Britain's railways and buses.
• There is willingness from disabled people to get more involved in public transport projects. 29% of disabled people say they would like the opportunity to do this in their local area, rising to over half of those aged 16-34 and among wheelchair users.
• There is a need to better inform disabled people about specific policies and projects. Only 23% think that it is true that disabled people will be exempt from proposed road charging schemes. 26% believe that easy to use buses will not be available until 2015 - despite this being a legal requirement for new buses since 2000.
• If transport services accessible to disabled people are to be effective, disabled people need to be aware of the existence and operational details. Disabled people also need to receive the right messages to ensure that they take advantage of new travel opportunities they provide. There are still many misperceptions.

Published: 24 May 2002

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