Equality
Please note that the views expressed in the below consultation summary were recorded during the Reference Group meeting held September 2001 and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BMTP team.
Introduction
This group was primarily concerned that all people in the Metropolitan area should have reasonable access to transport. Significant strides forward were being made legislatively and in implementation but there are still problems, including access to travel information, slow introduction of accessible vehicles and attitudes among staff and other travellers. However, among the general public a significant disparity arises from the fact that up to 50% of households do not have access to a car in Belfast. This imposes serious social inequality in a context where public transport is considered to be underprovided for in comparison to other cities.
Road Traffic Issues
- Substantial proportion of households in Belfast do not have access to a car – 50%.
- Illegal parking including parking on pavements causes a nuisance to people with sight impairment and obstructs ambulances and other vehicles from parking near the kerb.
- People parking/loading vehicles in bays allocated to disabled drivers frequently occurs
- The Blue badge system works reasonably well in Belfast. But it is important that it is operated according to the regulations to avoid perceptions of it being abused.
Public Transport
General Issues
A relatively high proportion of households (50%) in the Belfast area have not got access to a car and are thus likely to rely strongly on public transport. The quality of public transport therefore will have a significant impact on the extent of social exclusion in Belfast irrespective of whether or not people are impaired.
The population is ageing and there is going to be an increasing reliance on public transport among people who will not be able to use a car.
There is insufficient awareness of needs of impaired people throughout transport service organisations. This includes not only frontline but also planning staff. For, instance decisions seem to be made in respect of moving bus stops without assessing needs of impaired people.
Problems of access concern more that just problems of mobility. A greater awareness is required among public transport and other operators of the needs of people with sensory impairment as distinct from physical or mobility impairment. What progress has been made, generally concerns people with physical impairment. People with hearing impairment, for example, can find it difficult to undertake a journey which involves seeking information, hearing announcements etc. In addition, it is important to understand the varying nature of particular impairment, for instance, most people with sight impairment can read large text.
Addressing the needs of mobility, visually and other impaired people is generally of benefit to everybody
People with impairment want to be able to access general forms of public transport as much as possible rather than being offered ‘special’ services
Public transport frequency and routes are especially limited for those who live outside Belfast
Need for indication of what money is being spent on meeting and where to meet needs of people with impairment
Translink are having funding problems and it is acknowledged that it is difficult to introduce the innovative designs desired. However, people with impairment are an important market segment and with the ageing of the population a growing source of revenue.
Specific Issues
Access is more than just physical access problems on vehicles.
There is little information provision for people with sight and auditory impairment. Translink have made progress in respect of signage but guidelines are still not always followed, for instance shaded text on glass panels can be difficult for sight impaired people to read s a priority, public transport information and changes need to be more readily available for the these impaired, such as change in location of bus stops, schedules .
All timetables, information and street signage should be designed to improve legibility for the visually impaired
Digital displays on buses are unclear for the visually impaired
Frontline staff not always able to give appropriate information or help
Ramps on buses do not always reach kerb (badly designed)
The provision of bus stops is inadequate. In addition, in some instances they have been moved without telling people
Inadequately designed bus shelters pose a danger for people with sight impairment
Inappropriate parking can obstruct access to buses for people with impairments
Bus stop locations are too few and situated at long intervals
Bangor station is an improvement but problems with signage and access to the town-centre remain
There is under-funding for community transport and flexible services in Belfast. Community transport can fill transport needs that mainstream public transport cannot.
What community transport exists could be better integrated into the mainstream public transport system.
Flexible services such as Flexibus/Easi-rider is confined mainly to North Belfast. They are not sufficiently promoted.
Taxis
People using wheelchairs have been charged double by taxi drivers
Even though appropriately equipped, taxi drivers do not always know how to operate ramps etc
Taxi drivers have refused to take guide dogs (and can do this in many instances under existing legislation).
Cycling/Walking
Need for more accessible toilets in Belfast
Access and ease of travel for Shopmobility devices around the city can be poor
Cycling on foot paths or joint pedestrian/cyclist facilities can pose problems for people with impairment
Parking of vehicles on clearways poses an obstacle of people with sight impairment, people using wheelchairs and other mobility vehicles
Inappropriately sited street furniture, café seating can pose danger for people with sight impairment. Serious concerns were also expressed over road digging and the incidence of uneven pavement surfaces
Design recommendations not always being adhered to, for example, handrails stopping before reaching the end of stairs; door widths being too narrow to take wheelchairs.
Suggested Initiatives and Solutions
It is essential that staff within organisations with responsibility for activities such as physical planning, building design, and transport operations are conversant with the needs of people with impairment. This is to ensure not only that the physical infrastructure and individual services meet the needs of people with impairment but that they aware of the likely impact that any changes however temporary will have on people and communicate these to affected groups.
The transport plan should avoid general commitments to improve access for people with impairment, rather it should specify targets to improve access and identify the necessary expenditures.
Planners/Operators should bear in mind that initiatives to improve access on the part of people with impairment frequently improves access for everybody.
Need for a central information service that could advise people with impairment on journey options and facilities available and schedules. At present such information is difficult to obtain. Use of a website and other media should be considered.
Need for statutory basis for DPTAC in NI
Vouchers for people who have difficulty using mainstream public transport to use taxis.
Licensing of taxi drivers to incorporate mandatory accessibility training.
More accessible taxis are required.
Pedestrian zones enforced and limited hours of delivery.
Translink should survey the travel needs of the various communities they serve and provide a service that matches their requirements
Marketing and making public transport information more available to the elderly is important. It might be worthwhile sending Translink personnel to community centres to advertise the various bus services and day trips
Bus schemes such as the Easi-Rider service provided by Disability Action, should be expanded (at present the service is limited and must be booked in advance)
There should be greater co-ordination between transport authorities to ensure that all journey legs can be made easily. For example, there could be a closer partnership between Translink services and community transport for the exchange of expertise and closer co-ordination of services
Walkway surfaces should be even and maintained at a high standard, any obstacles need to be marked highly visibly, for the benefit of the visually impaired, and holes in the pavement covered in order to avoid serious injury
Introduce new innovations such as audio facilities at pedestrian crossings, audio signage and railings along roads
For any new innovation or scheme, the needs of the sensory impaired must be integrated from the start and treated as unique from other disabilities