Accessible Transport In East London

By Sandra Bell and David Hurdle (with updates and edited by Kathleen Covill)

We have Government commitment to accessible public transport. And we have the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which will go some way towards making it happen. But what does 'accessible public transport' really mean to disabled people? And what really needs to be done to make public transport easier for elderly people and for anyone travelling with young children? CILT decided to find out in a major study in East London.

The result of CILT's research - the Accessible Transport in East London report (A.T.E.L.) - was published by CILT at the end of 1998 following a successful launch at the House of Commons at which Andrew Braddock (Head of London Transport's Unit for Disabled Passengers), Ian Brown (Chief executive of Docklands Light Railway Ltd.), and Alistair Beattie (Policy Officer for Age Concern London) spoke.

The A.T.E.L. report examines public transport in the London Boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets, where the Docklands Light Railway and new low-floor buses are starting to create an accessible network of public transport routes. The report is based upon data generated by 195 questionnaires and over 200 interviews with disabled and older people and local community groups, and CILT also talked to the two local authorities, London Transport, and transport operators. The report makes 92 recommendations for improving this network and making it truly accessible for everyone.

These recommendations cover all the modes of public transport in the area, and include improving personal safety at bus stops and train stations, improving disability awareness training for transport staff, improving signing, access, and information provision throughout the network, and encouraging integration between transport modes.

The following is a snapshot of some of CILT's findings:

Low-floor buses are welcomed by wheelchair users, people who have difficulty with steps, and those travelling with children - buggies can be wheeled straight on without being folded. People who do not use public transport now say they will use buses when more are low-floor. Drivers on the 101 route received more favourable comments than drivers on other routes.

"The 101 bus is a good idea and there should be more buses of this type."

Travelling Light - Regular travellers on the D.L.R. are pleased with the easy access and appreciate the presence of the train captains.

"If you're elderly and you have a long walk to the bus stop it's not just the walk, it's carrying the shopping back."

Too far to walk - Buses need to go nearer to where people live, and to where they want to go including shops, markets, community centres, and hospitals.

Too long to wait - Long waits for the bus are annoying to most passengers. But to elderly and disabled people they can also be uncomfortable or impossible, especially when there is no seating or shelter.

Driven to distraction - Sudden braking and acceleration can be dangerous for passengers who are not too steady on their feet.

"They drive off at top speed before you get a chance to sit down and then they slam the brakes on so you go flying all around the bus."

Crowded buses cause problems for elderly and disabled people getting on and off and suggest the need for increased capacity at busy times.

Out of Order - Lifts not working on the D.L.R. cause problems for regular users and put off past and potential passengers. Local people feel the D.L.R. is not for them, rather it is to serve workers at Canary Wharf.

Staff can make a difference to anyone's journey but are even more important to disabled and elderly passengers and those travelling with children. The lack of staff presence causes concern over personal security, especially for women, many of whom will not use public transport after dark. Staff can also help with information and offer assistance.

"I wish there were people you could ask if you are in difficulty, especially late at night, we used to have inspectors once upon a time."

Underground, Over-ground - Steps at stations are a major barrier to disabled people and make travelling by Underground or National Rail difficult for anyone accompanied by children in a buggy.

Information - For the visually impaired passenger, bus stop timetables are difficult to read and route numbers on buses are difficult to see, causing embarrassment if the person flags down the wrong bus at a request stop. For those with learning disabilities using public transport is generally confusing, knowing when to get off the bus is a particular problem.

"Never heard of it" - There is a lack of awareness of accessible public transport services, not helped by the lack of one source of information covering all types of transport. Information is needed in people's homes, at shopping centres, community centres and libraries.

Integration - Walking long distances from the bus to the train and crossing over busy roads, and being unsure of where to go, are all problems facing disabled and elderly people and result in them trying to make simple journeys by bus only. Bus stops need to be nearer stations, and well signed. Pedestrians need better priority where they have to cross a main road to get to the station - not everyone is able to run. And information at all bus and train stations should refer to other services.

With over 40 bus routes, 4 Underground lines, 5 National Rail lines and the D.L.R. it is vital that operators work together, and in partnership with the local authorities, if integration is to move from being a concept to a reality.

Moving in the Right Direction

CILT considers that East London has the potential to be a 'showcase' for accessible public transport. CILT envisages an accessible network which will allow disabled people to be more independent, enable elderly people to get out more and attract drivers out of their cars. It is clear from the research that there is a long way to go. Public transport is still geared towards able bodied commuters travelling at peak times. Transport operators still make decisions in isolation from each other, and without consulting local authorities or local communities. But it is encouraging that London Transport's Unit for Disabled Passengers, the D.L.R., Railtrack, and the London Boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets contributed to this study and supported its recommendations.

1999 and Beyond

CILT is pushing forward the recommendations made by A.T.E.L. to ensure that the impact of the report continues; we are aiming to hold a meeting with the transport providers and boroughs in the study area to ascertain progress on the recommendations - this will enable us to produce a report updating A.T.E.L.'s progress.

Kathleen Covill at CILT has met with a local superstore manager to advise on improvements to crossings, signs, and public transport and pedestrian access at the store. D.L.R. is improving all of their station signs, and have introduced detailed maps at its stations showing local facilities and bus stops and routes. There are also plans afoot to improve Shadwell Station's appearance and to integrate it more successfully with the tube station nearby. This was one of the key recommendations made by the A.T.E.L. report.

CILT is also proposing to research and produce a 'Green and Accessible Guide to Docklands', in which accessible routes and destinations will be clearly described with information about facilities ticketing, signs, and staffing included. This Guide was another of A.T.E.L.'s key recommendations - as well as being a useful travel companion for mobility impaired passengers, it will indicate how accessible public transport in the Docklands area is progressing.

The full Accessible Transport in East London report costs £30 (including p. & p.) or £10 for voluntary sector organisations. Click here to order.