Confidence gap must close before transport investment can deliver

Major investment in making transport more user-friendly has not been accompanied by high levels of confidence among disabled users, a survey revealed on the 29th January 2007.

A nationwide poll by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) reveals that disabled people are four times more likely to lack confidence using buses and trains than non-disabled people.

The survey found that difficulties using public transport wasn't just an issue for people with a physical impairment. The poll revealed that the percentage of people with a mental health problem who lacked confidence travelling was higher than those with a physical impairment.

The survey, undertaken by TNS of seven thousand British people, also found that over 40% of disabled people aren't confident taking an unplanned journey on an unfamiliar route - twice the figure for non-disabled travellers.

The survey is published as the DRC launches a campaign to encourage more disabled people and those with long term health conditions to use public transport and exercise their new rights to fair treatment on buses, trains, trams and taxis.

The campaign follows changes to the Disability Discrimination Act introduced last month. Under the new legislation a bus driver is required to notify someone with a visual impairment when they reach their stop and train staff can be asked to bring refreshments to a passenger who can't walk to the buffet car.

Bus and train companies in Britain have invested a minimum of £600 million to make vehicles accessible, such as introducing low floor buses and audio and visual announcements on trains. These improvements have been required on all new buses and trains since 2000. Every bus and train needs to be accessible by 2017 and 2020 respectively.

Sir Bert Massie, Chairman of the DRC said:

"Millions have been invested in making public transport more user-friendly. But in some parts of the country, lack of confidence is the major barrier for disabled people using buses and trains. We need to see a return on this investment through increased transport use.

"The fact that people with mental health problems have the lowest levels of confidence using public transport shows that the problem isn't just about physical access but about service issues that are well within reach of transport providers to put right.

"We know that bus and train companies have invested in training their staff to provide assistance to disabled people. They need to continue this work by making increasing confidence their top priority.

"Investing in accessible transport has had a positive impact on many disabled people, but investing in good customer services is just as vital."

Key findings from the survey:

26% of disabled people said they were not confident travelling alone on buses and trains compared with 6% of non-disabled people who said they lacked confidence;

42% of disabled people said they are not confident about making an unplanned journey on an unfamiliar route compared with 20% of non-disabled people; of disabled people who said they lacked confidence using public transport, 38% had a mental health problem, 32% a sensory impairment and 30% a physical impairment.