About 12% of the population of most countries have some kind of disability. In the UK this means more than 6 million people. Most countries too have an ageing population. The correlation between age and disability is high. In addition many people are "handicapped" by luggage, shopping or small children when they move about as pedestrians or passengers. There are well established principles of design that make it easier for everyone, including those with mobility problems to move about. And yet our pedestrian environments and transport systems and vehicles are still too often designed or planned with people as a very low priority. This paper reviews developments in practice and policy throughout the transport "chain" on both a UK and Europe-wide basis and expands the case for putting people first. Developments to benefit the disabled traveller include: low floor buses; changes in designs to bus and rail stations to reduce changes of level, fewer steps, improved layout, non-slip floors, good lighting. For pedestrianised areas, guidance points for blind and partially sighted people, tactile surfaces, and well designed street furniture can improve accessibility, as can even surfaces, low gradient slopes, fewer kerbs or steps.
Abstract