02 February 2007
Disabled people still have problems using public transport, despite the recent strengthening of discrimination legislation.
A survey released this week by the Disability Rights Commission revealed that disabled people are four times more likely to lack confidence using buses and trains than others. People with mental health problems also had difficulties.
Of the disabled people surveyed who said they lacked confidence, 38% had a mental health problem, 32% a sensory impairment and 30% a physical one.
Changes to the Disability Discrimination Act introduced in December require bus drivers to let a person with a physical impairment know when they reach their stop, and for train staff to bring refreshments to passengers unable to walk to a buffet car.
DRC chair Sir Bert Massie said: 'The fact that people with mental health problems have the lowest levels of confidence using public transport shows the problem is… about service issues that are within the reach of transport providers to put right.'
PFfeb2007
