Accessibility 'is a nation-wide transport issue'

Date: 19/11/2010

Travel accessibility is a big problem across the UK, one expert has claimed, following a report on ease of access to public transport in London.

Faryal Velmi, Director of Transport for All, said the capital is in fact in a better position than many other cities.

The study conducted by the London Assembly Transport Committee revealed more than one in ten Londoners are excluded from large sections of the public transport network because buses, trains and stations are not accessible to those with reduced mobility.

Ms Velmi stated it is very important to raise awareness of these issues and conceded the paper's recommendations are a good place to start for improving access for disabled people.

She argued London is in a better position than other places because it at least has an accessible bus fleet, but admitted "there is definitely room for improvement".

The research also found just ten of the capital's 270 tube stations are completely step-free from street level to train.

Posted by Mary Treen