Transport access for all
In a perfect world, public transport would be accessible to everyone, including the elderly and the physically disabled. With Europe's ageing population growing rapidly and the number of disabled estimated at 63 million policymakers are now striving to create a transport system that is accessible to all. The EU-funded project 'Mobility schemes ensuring accessibility of public transport for all users' (ACCESS 2 ALL) encouraged key players in the public transport sector to improve mobility in this respect. It began by defining user needs in order to identify around 100 good practices. along with risks for travellers with limited mobility. The project team also reviewed the latest research and high-tech developments to enhance public transport services, elaborating implementation scenarios and outlining policy recommendations to this effect. Moreover, ACCESS 2 ALL proposed customised services and solutions for route guidance coupled with accurate localisation methods, considering as well social, cross-cultural and cross-generation issues. Proposed solutions included human–machine interface technology to facilitate transport for those with impaired mobility. Overall, the project elaborated mobility schemes, policy recommendations and specific guidelines that promote accessibility to all users. It encouraged public transport operators to adopt these schemes with the support of training programmes, software tools, user forums and e-learning initiatives. The new public transport paradigm was designed to be user friendly not only to the elderly and physically disabled, but also, for example, to those who are illiterate or dyslexic. Supported by a strong dissemination plan that reaches out to transport stakeholders and policymakers, the project team has put the wheels in motion to make transport much more inclusive and accessible. It has designed a research roadmap for the short, medium and long term that will help achieve the project's objectives. This is expected to improve public transport operation performance, reduce operational costs, promote synergies among transport operators and radically facilitate transport for all.
