Lack of accessibility to transport impacting disabled people’s quality of life
A recent national transport survey has revealed disabled people use transport less than non-disabled people and find it less easy to use. It also highlights that these access issues are impacting on people’s quality of life.
The Kiwi Transport Survey, a national web-based survey, was undertaken in September and October 2015 by CCS Disability Action and TDG. The survey aimed to provide information about the way disabled and non-disabled people viewed transport, how often they used it and what barriers there were in accessing transport. More than 350 unimpaired people and more than 2,500 disabled people responded to the survey.
Senior Transportation Researcher, Bridget Burdett, of TDG said, “The survey showed us that if the transport industry is to improve the profile of disabled people in planning we need to measure who is excluded from transport – not just who isn’t included. When we measure who is excluded we understand what is needed for people to be fully included—and what this will take.”
No matter the type of disability—cognitive, sensory or physical—Ms Burdett said people who had mobility impairments found trains and buses and even footpaths less easy to use than their non-disabled counterparts. The availability of public transport was also seen as a major issue for disabled people, with some unsure whether the next bus would be able to transport them, or if taking public transport would be complicated and take hours.
Ms Burdett said almost 750 people who responded to the web-based survey were aged over 74 years—showing a clear correlation between the transport needs and barriers for disabled people and older people.
CCS Disability Action and TDG also surveyed professionals working within the transport sector, with 250 respondents providing their views on transport planning and design.
Ms Burdett said while more than 80% of transport sector respondents said they thought our standards for vehicles were adequate for all users—only 40% thought we had an adequate standard for all users when it came to our footpaths. And, fewer than 10% of respondents thought New Zealand had good data about who used footpaths, who didn’t and why people didn’t use them.
The Kiwi Transport Survey results were shared with key stakeholders in the transport industry and disabled people in Wellington on December 1. The survey is part of a wider Measuring Accessible Journeys project being led by CCS Disability Action. The project has received funding from the Ministry of Social Development’s Think Differently Fund and has the aim of developing a transport system that demonstrates inclusion.
A recent national transport survey has revealed disabled people use transport less than non-disabled people and find it less easy to use. It also highlights that these access issues are impacting on people’s quality of life.
The Kiwi Transport Survey, a national web-based survey, was undertaken...
A recent national transport survey has revealed disabled people use transport less than non-disabled people and find it less easy to use. It also highlights that these access issues are impacting on people’s quality of life.
The Kiwi Transport Survey, a national web-based survey, was undertaken in September and October 2015 by CCS Disability Action and TDG. The survey aimed to provide information about the way disabled and non-disabled people viewed transport, how often they used it and what barriers there were in accessing transport. More than 350 unimpaired people and more than 2,500 disabled people responded to the survey.
Senior Transportation Researcher, Bridget Burdett, of TDG said, “The survey showed us that if the transport industry is to improve the profile of disabled people in planning we need to measure who is excluded from transport – not just who isn’t included. When we measure who is excluded we understand what is needed for people to be fully included—and what this will take.”
No matter the type of disability—cognitive, sensory or physical—Ms Burdett said people who had mobility impairments found trains and buses and even footpaths less easy to use than their non-disabled counterparts. The availability of public transport was also seen as a major issue for disabled people, with some unsure whether the next bus would be able to transport them, or if taking public transport would be complicated and take hours.
Ms Burdett said almost 750 people who responded to the web-based survey were aged over 74 years—showing a clear correlation between the transport needs and barriers for disabled people and older people.
CCS Disability Action and TDG also surveyed professionals working within the transport sector, with 250 respondents providing their views on transport planning and design.
Ms Burdett said while more than 80% of transport sector respondents said they thought our standards for vehicles were adequate for all users—only 40% thought we had an adequate standard for all users when it came to our footpaths. And, fewer than 10% of respondents thought New Zealand had good data about who used footpaths, who didn’t and why people didn’t use them.
The Kiwi Transport Survey results were shared with key stakeholders in the transport industry and disabled people in Wellington on December 1. The survey is part of a wider Measuring Accessible Journeys project being led by CCS Disability Action. The project has received funding from the Ministry of Social Development’s Think Differently Fund and has the aim of developing a transport system that demonstrates inclusion.
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