IMechE held a roundtable to bring together key stakeholders in the transport sector to discuss the Institution’s new report, ‘En route to inclusive public transport’, and identify the next steps.
Millions of people are affected by inaccessible public transport in the UK; women, disabled people, older adults, families, those living in rural areas, and members of the LGBTQ+ community may find it more difficult or stressful to travel, and at times impossible. The National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) reported that over 90% of disabled people face barriers on at least one mode of transport. This can limit access to education, employment, volunteer, health, leisure and tourism opportunities. All of which help our communities and economy to thrive. A Motability report from 2022 shows the annual economic gain of closing the transport accessibility gap is £72 billion. Clearly, changes are needed to improve the transport network, but the sheer number of stakeholders makes the system a highly complex landscape of regulations, standards and initiatives. Current reforms to simplify the system, alongside a real focus on economic growth and Net Zero offer an opportunity to invest in the future of transport. IMechE are calling to government and the wider transport sector to make ambitious changes across three key themes: data, innovation, and skills and co-production. A whole system approach to transport accessibility is needed to address challenges and remove key barriers. 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.
Summary En route to inclusive public transport
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