| Topic: | Re:London's pop-up cycle lanes 'stopping disabled travel' | |
| Posted by: | Philippa Bond | |
| Date/Time: | 22/08/20 16:58:00 |
| "Disability equality consultant Mik Scarlet told the BBC he was happy for cycling to be encouraged but he wanted travel to be made more accessible in the capital." The recent changes are not by far the only problems that the disabled have with travelling in the capital. Just look at the fight there was for guards on trains. The push has been to avoid having any personnel on stations making it difficult for wheelchair users to get on and off trains on their way to work etc because there was no-one on the platform to put the ramp down. There was a lot of work done for this for the Olympics but then it disappeared. Other countries seem to manage to subsidise public transport better so that it is accessible for all. Why are the disabled and elderly or ill (after all many of us suffer from mobility and other problems which do not qualify us for a Blue Badge) treated as such second class citizens? We NEED our train and tube stations to be more accessible and transport planners should be making sure that their designs for all our local stations - and particularly ones being rebuilt - ARE accessible. It is shameful that so few are. If cars are to be reduced on the roads then the alternatives for everyone need to be provided. It is of course more difficult at this time when fewer want to travel by public transport- although my neighbour said that there were only four passengers on a tube train into central London recently. I've seen ramps put down so that pedestrians with buggies and wheelchairs etc can move between the pavement and the extended pavement. I don't see why arrangements can't be made for points where passengers in wheelchairs can be set down and picked up. Taxis and minicabs generally stop in the middle of the road. Too many parked cars must usually be the problem they encounter. One of our biggest problems is IT and our lack of ability to use a mobile/smartphone which can be used to book and communicate with a taxi. You don't have to just hail a taxi - you an order one by telephone or online. https://www.transportforall.org.uk/d2d/ https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/taxicard https://www.transportforall.org.uk/d2d/ |