Access to public transport is essential to ensure everyone can more within and contribute to the community. Having a public transport system that is accessible means that not only people with disabilities, but older people with mobility problems, people with temporary injuries and parents with prams can easily utilise it. Improving access to public transport services provides opportunities for travel to work, services or recreational activities that might otherwise not be available.
The Victorian Government has developed an action plan called ‘Accessible Public Transport in Victoria 2006-2012’ which outlines activities to comply with the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and the accompanying Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002.
The Plan covers mainstream public transport for which the Victorian Government has direct responsibility, including metropolitan rail, bus and tram services, regional rail, coach and bus services and taxi services. It does not cover school bus services, which are exempt from the DDA and the Standards, nor does it cover passenger or vehicular ferries or aviation.
The Plan sets out a series of milestones at five-year intervals from 2002 to 2022, covering a number of areas, some of which are listed below:
- Access paths
- Surfaces
- Toilets
- Signage
- Tactile ground surface indicators (TGSI)
- Street furniture
- Payment of fares
- Waiting areas.