Public transport providers have a legal duty to adjust their vehicles, facilities and information to make them accessible to disabled users and prevent disabled users from being substantially disadvantaged.
It is a good idea to contact the transport operator before you travel to make sure they are able to offer the assistance you require. All public transport vehicles must accept guide dogs and other assistance dogs. They can only refuse assistance dogs if they have a special exemption or if to accept dogs would be a problem for other passengers, for example, if the bus is already full. Assistance dogs travel free on public transport.
Bus and coach services
All new buses and coaches should be accessible for people with disabilities, including those using wheelchairs. This means you should be able to get on and off them without too much difficulty and travel in them safely. You can expect buses and coaches to have priority seating for disabled people, low-rise flooring, ramp access and grab rails. Buses that don’t meet these standards will be replaced by ones that do by 2017.
Trains
All new trains are accessible, and refurbished trains are being made accessible. This includes:
- floors that are level with the platform, or a ramp providing step-free access to the platform
- doors wide enough for a wheelchair user to use
- buttons to open and close the doors that can be reached easily by someone in a wheelchair
- travel destinations shown on the inside and outside of the train as well as over the public address system
London Underground
The London Underground is being refurbished in the run up to the 2012 Olympics to make its services more accessible. It currently offers:
- induction loops at ticket offices
- priority seating on all trains
- automatic voice announcements for the current and next stations, and the destination on most trains
All London Underground staff have had disability equality training and will be able to assist you if necessary. They can help passengers to avoid escalators, and can call ahead to the destination to arrange for assistance there.
