En route to inclusive public transport

Report examines policy reforms and engineering solutions to make public transport more inclusive in the UK

Using public transport in the UK can be daunting for millions of people. Women, disabled people, older adults, neurodivergent people, families, those living in rural areas, and members of the LGBTQ+ community may experience barriers while travelling. Things like a lack of step-free access, inaccessible announcements, overcrowded platforms, limited priority seating, infrequent services and commuter-centric routes, can make it more difficult, and at times impossible, for some people to travel.

Now is an opportune moment for ambitious change, which Clive Gilbert, Head of Accessible Transport at Policy Connect, says “are needed to ensure accessibility is a priority for transport stakeholders who must then define a clear and joined-up path towards a transport network that works better for everyone.”

This report aims to understand the role of engineering in this journey. Key recommendations are made to industry and government to better enable a whole-system approach for a more inclusive public transport system. Three themes can be drawn from our recommendations; transport stakeholders must act to ensure outcomes are enabled by data, existing systems are fit-for-purpose, and upskilling and partnership is prioritised to grow inclusive design expertise.

Ruth Cadbury MP, Chair of the House of Commons Transport Committee, said “I am delighted to see the Institution of Mechanical Engineers focus its attention on this chronically overlooked subject. Inclusive transport services don’t just benefit the most vulnerable, they make travelling safer, more equitable and more enjoyable for everyone. I look forward to discussing the Institution’s report and its findings on improving the physical environment of transport services, so that inclusivity can become the norm rather than the exception.” 

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Summary

Roundtable summary: En route to inclusive public transport