The March meeting of the Cross Party Group on Sustainable Transport was the fourth in its series on transport inequalities, this time focusing on the experiences of disabled people navigating Scotland’s transport network – and transport’s role in their ability to move freely, access opportunities, and participate fully in society.
The session featured insights from Hussein Patwa, an independent accessibility consultant, and Douglas Bryce from Disability Equality Scotland, as well as an engaging discussion on the real-world barriers disabled people face in accessing transport. We summarise the meeting below.
Balancing sustainability and accessibility
Hussein Patwa opened the session by highlighting the crucial role of transport in helping achieve equality and inclusion. He noted that while progress has been made in sustainable transport — through decarbonisation, rail accessibility improvements, and integrated ticketing — accessibility concerns are often sidelined. He noted examples of challenges, including:
- The lack of noise-making devices on electric vehicles, which poses risks for visually impaired individuals.
- Floating bus stops and cycle lane designs that force disabled pedestrians to navigate unsafe infrastructure.
- A funding model that prioritises active travel over accessibility improvements.
Hussein argued that while local authorities acknowledge accessibility concerns, they often lack the resources to address them effectively. He urged decision-makers to engage in difficult conversations now rather than treating accessibility as an issue to be solved later. His recommendations included:
- Shifting from short-term, temporary solutions to long-term planning that prioritises inclusivity
- Recognising that disabled pedestrians have fewer route choices than other transport users e.g. cyclists
- Integrating accessibility concerns into all active travel infrastructure projects
Progress in the last 30 years?
Douglas Bryce of Disability Equality Scotland (DES) provided a detailed review of transport accessibility, marking the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act as a time for reflection. He cited a recent DES survey in which 96.7% of respondents identified accessible transport as their top concern.
Douglas reported on the Scottish Government’s Accessible Travel Framework (2016), acknowledging some progress but emphasising inconsistencies across different transport modes. Key recommendations from DES included:
- Improved data collection and public accountability: Establishing clear indicators to track accessibility progress.
- Mandatory disability equality training: Ensuring transport staff receive training directly from disabled people.
- Expanding accessibility planning: Including active travel and community transport in accessibility frameworks.
- Addressing hate crime on public transport: With reports of disability hate crime rising 22% in the past year, stronger action is needed.
Douglas stressed that transport systems should allow spontaneous, independent travel without the need for pre-arranged assistance. He called for sustained collaboration to ensure accessibility is embedded into all transport planning and policy decisions.
Key themes from the discussion
The session concluded with a lively Q&A, covering:
Systemic barriers: The discussion focused on the various systemic issues faced by disabled passengers, particularly the challenges in accessing transport due to fragmentation of services, infrastructure gaps, and inconsistent policies. The need for integrated solutions was emphasised, including a centralised national information service and uniform accessibility standards across transport operators. Calls for greater government intervention and accountability were made, particularly to address funding and legal constraints that stall improvements.
Floating bus stops: Safety concerns were raised regarding the design of floating bus stops, where pedestrians must cross cycle lanes to access bus stops, creating potential hazards. These design flaws were discussed in the context of ongoing reviews such as that by Transport for London, which are working to redesign infrastructure to prioritise pedestrian safety and avoid conflicts between different types of travel.
Active travel: A central point of the discussion was the inclusion of disabled people as active travellers in the broader context of promoting active travel. It was argued that disabled people should not be seen as opposing active travel but rather as participants in it. The importance of maintaining accessible streets, including regular pavement clearing and prompt pothole repairs, was stressed as a fundamental part of ensuring safe and inclusive active travel options for all.
Improving accountability: There was a focus on improving accountability from transport operators in delivering on their accessibility commitments. This included suggestions for reviewing bus pass funding, setting benchmarks based on successful operators, and ensuring better engagement with disabled passengers in the planning process. The debate also touched on whether the responsibility for ensuring accessibility lies more with transport operators or government agencies.
Communication barriers: Issues around inconsistent signage and communication on public transport were highlighted, particularly regarding the lack of visual indicators for deaf passengers. The Glasgow Subway’s lack of visual announcements was used as an example, though improvements were confirmed for 2026. Inconsistent communication and unclear signage were recognised as significant barriers to access for disabled people, underscoring the need for standardised solutions across transport networks.
Co-design in transport planning: The discussion concluded with an emphasis on the importance of co-designing transport infrastructure with disabled people from the outset. This approach, highlighted by successful projects like Sighthill Bridge in Glasgow, ensures that solutions are built with accessibility in mind from the beginning, benefiting not only disabled users but all passengers.
Next steps for the CPG
A final event and summary report will follow in June 2025 to shape future policy recommendations. This will bring together insights and expertise from across the CPG’s series of evidence sessions on poverty, age, gender and disabilities over the past year.
By spotlighting accessibility concerns, this month’s discussion reinforced that a sustainable transport system must be an inclusive one which ensures no one is left behind.
