Pic caption: Brighton & Hove bus user Graham Oulton and guide dog Bassey.
Brighton & Hove and Metrobus leads the way on accessible transport in England, says government
Brighton & Hove and Metrobus has been recognised for leading the way among English transport companies, making transport accessible for disabled people by putting them at the heart of its services.
The bus company was one of only two public transport providers in England to achieve the highest Leader status under the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Inclusive Transport Leaders Scheme, announced earlier this week.
The scheme is open to all transport operators across bus and coach; rail; airport and airlines; ferries, cruises and ports. The aim is to make travelling accessible for all disabled people by 2030 under the government’s Inclusive Transport Strategy.
Brighton & Hove Buses was recognised for its outstanding work around accessibility, including appointing the UK’s first Accessibility Manager and making all of its buses accessible.
Brighton & Hove Bus Managing Director Martin Harris said: “We are genuinely heartened to receive this recognition but we see it much more as a testament to the hard work and commitment of the many disabled groups and disabled people we have worked with over the years. We thank them for their help and support.
“They are the ones who have helped us make our services more accessible. It is their voices that have informed every area of the way we deliver our services, including training our bus drivers and customer service colleagues, the vehicles we buy, the way buses are designed and how we provide information to our customers.”
Martin said that ensuring bus services were accessible for disabled people also made them accessible for everyone.
“We will never sit back and maintain the status quo. There is always room to improve our services and the best way we can do this is to keep listening to our customers and to our local community groups and finding solutions to the issues they raise.”
Accessible travel highlights
• All buses are accessible for customers with wheelchairs, buggies and guide dogs
• Audio-visual announcements on buses
• Helping Hand Card, which lets drivers know when a passenger needs extra help
• Free Helping Hand exemption card for those who cannot wear face coverings
• Dementia-friendly floors
• Wheelchair Taxi Guarantee Scheme
• Part of the Safe Haven Scheme for passengers
• Hearing Loops
• Ticket discounts for carers
• Community Support Fund for local groups
• Building travel confidence for people with learning disabilities
For more information on the bus company’s accessible travel, please click here.