A group of senior parliamentarians in the UK has warned that the accessibility of public transport for disabled people has become a "national disgrace." A report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Transport stated that "systemic" failures exist across all forms of public transport and believes that "an undue burden is placed on disabled people" to hold operators and authorities to account. This situation needs urgent attention to ensure equal access for everyone.
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03-20, 2025Transport for All, a charity led by disabled people, has urged the government to take action on the report's findings. Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood stated, "We need to do more to ensure that everyone can travel easily and with dignity." He added, "It is clear that accessibility has been an afterthought when developing transport services, and we need to do more to ensure that everyone can travel easily and with dignity." This highlights a critical need for proactive inclusion in transport planning.
The report found that nearly 70% of disabled people said they face barriers to travel most or all of the time. Ruth Cadbury MP, Chair of the Transport Special Committee, said in an interview with the BBC: "I am deeply disappointed that my fellow citizens, my constituents, cannot choose how they spend each day in the same way that I can." These barriers significantly impact the daily lives and choices of disabled individuals.
Parliamentarians stated that the current system is too complex and difficult to navigate. They called on the Department for Transport (DFT), which is responsible for transport policy in England, to simplify the system and consider possible amendments to legislation, which, in theory, could be implemented in other parts of the UK. The report calls for a change in culture, arguing that there is an urgent need to redefine disability inclusion as a "non-negotiable human rights issue." This shift in perspective is crucial for systemic change.
Transport for All stated that the report's findings "paint a shocking picture," highlighting that the disabled community is "unable to use any mode of transport equally." The charity's Chief Executive, Caroline Strickland, said in an interview with the BBC: "We very much welcome this clear call to action that the current state of transport accessibility in our country cannot continue." She added, "This report is a wake-up call for the government to address transport accessibility and ensure that the UK is a home for all of us." The charity emphasizes the urgent need for government intervention and reform.
The report made 29 conclusions and recommendations, including that the government should develop a new inclusive transport strategy within 12 months. The report also recommended that ministers consider simplifying the current regulatory and enforcement, which they believe is "too fragmented and complex." Streamlining these processes is essential for effective implementation and accountability.
