The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 is legislation enacted to prevent discrimination on the grounds of a person's disability. The accessible public transport standards (DDA standards) were developed through a consultative process involving stakeholders and subjected to a Regulation Impact Statement. The standards have implications for all infrastructure providers including local government. This report includes a study with an objective to identify issues affecting local government with respect to DDA standards, and explores suggestions as to how more accessible transport could be introduced to outer suburban bus routes. The study involved arranging for a low-floor bus to traverse a local bus route in each of outer Melbourne, Sydney and Gold Coast, followed by a workshop to identify practical solutions to improving accessibility. This report explores issues of particular relevance to local government but highlights the need for state road authorities and councils to work together to maximise the `whole of journey' accessibility. It also touches upon a number of issues of relevance to bus manufacturers and bus operators. (Author/publisher)
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