23 November 2012 How our campaign has led to real changes on transport
Transport for London's introduction of posters that explain why wheelchairs users have priortiy access to shared spaces on buses is a major campaign goal achieved for Trailblazers.
The new posters combined with London's bus drivers using their PA system to ask other passengers to move aside are improvements that Trailblazers campaigners have been calling for since 2009.
With such an important campaign victory secured it's a good opportunity to look back at what we've done to raise awareness of this issue and to learn for the success.
Below is a timeline that shows how Trailblazers have worked with transport providers, parliamentarians, national and regional media organisations to bring about this important announcement.
Timeline to change
Autumn 2008
Trailblazers campaigners consistently raised the issue of the accessibility of the UK's transport system and select transport as the first issue to be addressed in a national investigation.
January - May 2009
Trailblazers from across the country launched an investigation on access to public transport. Network members reviewed hundreds of journeys on trains and buses in their area and our first campaign report, End of the Line, was launched at the Houses of Parliament in May 2009. The report and the network grabbed the attention of the media.
June and July 2009
Our End of the Line report sparked a Parliamentary debate on the issue of accessible public transport, which led to Trailblazers campaigners meeting meeting with a Minister for Transport.
Autumn 2009
Trailblazers kept up the pressure by joining the Minister for Transport, Sadiq Khan MP on a mystery shopping bus journey in Nottingham where campaigners explained the issue of limited space for wheelchair users on buses. We also met with Transport for London to discuss access to taxis and buses.
Spring, Summer and Autumn 2010
Our meetings with the Minister for Transport began to bear fruit when the Government announced plans to fine bus companies if their drivers don't ensure that disabled passengers can access the wheelchair space.
In July and September Trailblazers campaigners gave evidence to a London Assembly Transport Committee and recommended posters to be added to buses that explain why the wheelchair space must be made available to disabled passengers .
In August Trailblazer Sulaiman Khan made the first of three appearances on BBC London News describing his experiences of travelling on London's transport network.
Winter 2010/2011
The London Assembly Transport Committee published their recommendations to improve access to transport. Trailblazers' recommendation that posters should be used to raise awareness of a wheelchair users priority to the shared space in the bus was highlighted (see page 35 bottom paragraph).
Trailblazers also met with the new Minster for Transport to discuss access and information issues on buses.
Summer and Autumn 2011
Trailblazers quizzed transport bosses in Parliament at a meeting of the APPG for Young Disabled People.
Trailblazers Dave Gale and Carrie-Ann Lightley won their campaign to get better information on the accessibility of buses on timetables in Cumbria. Meanwhile we secured another meeting with the Minister for Transport where we explained the need for wheelchair users to have their own space on buses.
Spring 2012
Trailblazers joined forces with Channel 4 News to help develop the No Go Britain season that has explained the many issues that affect disabled people who want to sue the transport network.
Network members presented the findings of our End of the Line report to the Department for Transport .
Trailblazers celebrated as Transport for London announced that manual boarding ramps would be used on London's Underground for the first time during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The ramps have been retained until the end of 2012 as a legacy of the Games and we continue to campaign for the ramps to be kept on permanently.
Today
In November Transport for London announced that they would be displaying posters on buses and bus stops that explain why a wheelchair user must be given priority to the accessible space in a London Bus.
With the expected retention of the manual boarding ramps at some London Underground stations and the launch of TfL's poster campaign and instructions to bus drivers to advise passengers to make space for wheelchair users we have seen two major campaign demands achieved in 2012. We are now calling for all bus companies and local authorities to follow suit and take notice our recommendations.
Read about our campaigns and get in touch to find out how you can get involved.
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