Transport barriers reinforce social isolation
Transport for All
On 16th October leading older people’s charities join...
On 16th October leading older people’s charities join forces with transport campaigning organisations to call for vast improvements to London transport to enable all older people to have a service that meets their needs.
On average people with disabilities make far less trips than people with no impairments due to poor accessibility of London’s transport system. The joint statement calls for accessible transport hubs linking together better quality, integrated and reliable services. These improvements will enable far more older people to play an active part in London life.
The Breaking Barriers campaign will launch the statement which the charities hope will influence the Mayor’s transport strategy – just released for consultation – to include older Londoners’ needs. The conference will be attended by over 100 older Londoners who will question London transport providers including Peter Hendy, the Commissioner for Transport for London.
The statement also calls for:
• Better safety on buses
• More consistent, coherent & reliable door to door transport
• Improved capacity & quality of transport to health services
• Step free access to more Underground and railway stations
Samantha Mauger, Chief Executive of Age Concern London, said:
“Our transport system is still letting older Londoners down. Many older people have told us that they find London transport complicated to navigate due to lack of access and joined up links between modes of transport. These problems need urgent address to enable all older people to be an actively involved and included in our city”
Frances Davidson, Older London, said:
I can’t use the tube lines because most of them have no access for disabled people. The buses rarely stop close to the pavement so it is very hard to get on and in particular off buses, which always seem to stop just where a lamppost or large dustbin has been placed. I love train travel because you get good service from the start to the end, with porters helping you and driving you to the trains or the taxis when you arrive at your destination. However, customer service is generally the real nightmare. You can’t get any response and no matter what your complaint is they all pass the buck. Until those who promote our transport systems are willing to give good customer service rather than platitudes and excuses, I am sad to say that things will not change. The customer these days is never right!!!
