A new transport organisation is launched today with the aim of ensuring that all future travel systems place accessibility at the heart of their creation and delivery.
The introduction of the Accessible Transport Policy Commission follows the establishment earlier this year of the UK’s first National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat).
The new Commission is a cross-party Parliamentary forum of MPs and Peers who are committed to eliminating barriers to transport.
The Policy Connect website reported that the Commission, which is chaired by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, will bring together disabled people, transport professionals and policy makers to forge a new and more inclusive consensus about the future of the transport system.
Baroness Thompson told the website: “I’m delighted to be the chair of the new cross-party Accessible Transport Policy Commission.
“Whether it’s to get to school, commute to work or visit friends, transport is a vital part of everyday life. However, too many disabled people face extra obstacles because of poor accessibility.
“We don’t want special treatment – only the same experience as everyone else. With the support of the National Centre for Accessible Transport, I’m looking forward working with my fellow Commissioners to bring disabled people and transport professionals together with policymakers from across the UK to break down barriers so in future no one is left behind.”
Funded by the Motability Foundation, ncat works to ensure that no disabled person faces challenges arising from poor access to transport. It aims to engage with disabled people to better understand their experiences and co-design solutions, amplify the voices of disabled people in all decision making, collaborate widely with all transport stakeholders, and demonstrate good practice and impact to influence policy.
