JointCommittee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People Policy Statement on

Public Transport Information

Introduction

The Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and PartiallySighted People is an independent body consisting of representatives of all theprinciple organisations of and for blind, deafblind and partially sightedpeople with a specific interest in access and mobility. The Joint Committee believes that blind,deafblind and partially sighted people should be able to move around safely andindependently.

TheJoint Committee believes that currently this is not the position and thatblind, deafblind and partially sighted people experience enormous barriers tofreedom of movement, seriously limiting their opportunities and choices. The Joint Committee believes that all blind,deafblind and partially sighted people should receive the support and skillsthey need to enable them to meet the challenges of the travelling environment.

Thispolicy statement is intended to highlight some essential principles concerningthe information needs of blind, deafblind and partially sighted people whentravelling. It is intended to;

help guide local authorities determine what informationshould reasonably be provided in their area

increase transport operators awareness of communicationneeds and also some solutions

act as a resource for local groups in stimulating discussionat local level on information requirements

act as a stimulus to improving communication systems whentravelling, ensuring it is accessible to all

Information deficit

Informedtravellers are empowered to make economic and sustainable travel choices. For blind, deafblind and partially sightedpeople a lack of access to information services can disempower individuals,excluding them from society or forcing them into inappropriate transportchoices.

Fortransport operators the information deficit facing blind, deafblind andpartially sighted people can exclude potential customers, particularly thosewho would benefit from accessible services now being introduced.

Informationis not only important before travel but during journeys as well, it isespecially important when things go wrong or changes. A lack of access to information undertaking a journey canincrease the stress of travelling and discomfort to the traveller. For blind, deafblind and partially sightedpeople it can leave them isolated and reduce the confidence to travelindependently.

Promotion and marketing

Beforepeople travel, they may like to consider a variety of options andalternatives. Travel operators willwant to promote their services and any improvements, for example theintroduction of low-floor accessible buses, which makes travel easier fordisabled people.

Excludingblind, deafblind and partially sighted people from this information excludesthe potential to include them as future passengers.

Serviceproviders should be taking steps to ensure their services are accessible andthis may include providing information in alternative formats for blind,deafblind and partially sighted people.

Printremains the most popular medium for more than six in ten people with sightloss. While some people will haveenough residual vision to read normal print the majority will require largerprint sizes. Ensuring clear print withgood colour contrast in publications will help those people with partial sightand those using magnification aids.

Peopleunable to read standard print (as in a newspaper for example) may be able toread information in clear or large print, tape, Braille, Moon, or on computerdisk. Many visually impaired peoplewill use a combination of these media depending on the nature of the document.

Someof the basic facts and figures of reading methods may be helpful.

Printis, despite the difficulties, the preferred reading medium for about six in tenpeople. However, visually impairedpeople can read print only if it is very clear.

Tapeis a very important medium to many blind and partially sighted people. Not everyone can use it however. Overall only one-third of people owns a tapeplayer; generally people in the younger age groups have a tape player but manyelderly people do not. Tape is also oflimited help to people with impaired hearing.

Brailleis used by a minority of visually impaired people, and around 19,000 people intotal in Britain. However, Braillereaders are a very important group.

Moon,an alternative to Braille, is used by only a very small number of people. Nevertheless, some individuals prefer tocommunicate in Moon.

Computerdisk is an increasingly popular medium among the minority with access toadapted computers (that is, computers with large print or Braille displays orwith speech output). Disk is aparticularly useful medium for long complex documents. However, you must ensure that you send adisk compatible with the recipients computer and software.

Web-sitescan also be used to provide travel information. Guidance is available from RNIB to help ensure that web-sites aredesigned to be accessible to visually impaired people.

Thetelephone is often a very acceptable alternative for short messages. Almost three-quarters of visually impairedpeople own a telephone and a quick telephone call may be preferred to adocument or a tape.

Localpeople are often keen to help organisations develop accessible information andwork with them to provide the service they require. Travel operators should provide the information local people wanton their services, and recognise the potential for increasing their market.

Ifdatabases are used then these could be used to identify the information needsof passengers and ensure communication and marketing is received in therequired format.

Public transport information (PTI) system

The Transport WhitePaper, A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone

1998 said (paragraph.3.73-3.74):

We are keen to see anational integrated journey timetable set upthe best way forward is to developa framework which builds on information already available passengers wouldaccess the system through one enquiry pointwe will seek agreement on theformat of information and interfaces between different systems. Our aim is for a public transportinformation system to be systematically extended across the country by 2000theinitial focus will be on timetable information, but the framework will bedeveloped with the aim of introducing information on fares.

The Confederation of PassengerTransport (CPT) has been asked to take the lead in the PTI initiative. In summary PTI 2000 will come on streamduring 2000 and will:

provide a nationalpublic transport information system,

through anational-rate call to a single phone number,

on a timetables totiming point level (that is, not necessarily to every bus stop, but to every stoplisted in the published timetables)

for bus, coach, tram,underground, train, ferry and metro.

Callswill be directed automatically to the local or regional enquiry centres fundedand run by partnerships of transport operators and local authorities. If the caller requires just rail or coachinformation, they will be advised to call National Rail Enquires or NationalExpress. If the local centre cannotgive the detailed information for the remote end of a trunk journey, the callwill be switched through to the centre with that information.

CPT will be ensuringthat accessibility issues are included in the future development of theproject, which will also expand to include issues like taxis and internationaltravel.

Information on accessibility

Fordisabled people information on the accessibility of travel services may also benecessary before a journey is undertaken.It is helpful if information relating to accessibility is included instandard marketing and promotional material.

Moredetailed information may also be needed about specific locations andservices. Transport operators shouldensure that they can provide accurate, up to date information on the facilitiesand services that they provide.Different organisations may mean different things when they claim to beaccessible and disabled friendly. It isimportant that recognised standards are used to assess the accessibility ofservices

Forsome operators it may be necessary to undertake an access audit of theirservices so that the information can be provided. This has the added advantage of highlighting any access barriersthat need removal.

Customercare staff can provide a significant degree of information on access, andassistance if necessary, when they are present in public transport services.

Information while travelling

Peoplealso need to be able to access information when they undertaking journeys. The first stage of this may mean providinginformation at bus stops, terminals and rail stations or any other accesspoints to public transport services.

Thelevel of information provided and the method of delivering that informationshould be appropriate to the facility provided. For example, information at an individual bus stop is likely tobe less than that provided at a bus station.

Bus stopinformation

Whenarriving at a bus stop the Joint Committee considers it important to be able toprovide information on the;

name of the bus stop location

direction of travel from that bus stop

route or service numbers operating from that stop

frequency of services at that time of the day, and anyvariation according to the day.

Thename of the bus stop is important because it enables people to learn variouslocations and identify them. It is alsoimportant for bus stops to have recognisable names to enable future solutionsproviding information on vehicles of the destinations that the bus stops at.

Thedirection of travel is particularly important where the road network may appearillogical, for example due to a one way system, or there are a number of busstops in close proximity.

Theroute or service numbers operating from that bus stop helps people identifywhether they are at the correct bus stop location and the waiting for theappropriate service.

Thefrequency of services at that time of the day and any variation according tothe day helps people identify when the next vehicle could be expected toarrive. This may be particularlyimportant for disabled people, some of whom may be unable to stand comfortablyfor more than five minutes.

Aswith information prior to travel not everyone will be able to read print. Information at bus stops is often furthercomplicated by being confusing even if you can read the print. The overall legibility of informationprovided at bus stops therefore needs improving, and this may not necessarilymean just increasing the print size.

Alternativemethods of delivering the same information could be employed that reduced thequantity of printed information required.The Joint Committee is aware of schemes that have experimented withfrequency diagrams rather than timetables.The Joint Committee would welcome the opportunity to help evaluatedifferent means of delivering printed information to improve its legibility.

Forthose unable to read print, it is important that they are able to identify thesame information as above. Simpletechniques, such as using embossed signs, could be employed to help identifythe bus stop location and routes served from it. More advanced technological developments can be integrated withreal-time information displays to provide audible and visualinformation. Various systems are beingexperimented with in different parts of the country, the Joint Committee welcomesinformation of future developments.

TheJoint Committee is also keen for information to be included at bus stops onpedestrian destinations in close proximity to the bus stop, highlighting thelinkage between the pedestrian environment and public transport.

Theseissues are as important in rural areas as they are in urban areas, often moreso. It would be sensible to seek toensure public telephones are available near to bus stops.

Bus station information

Atstations all the above information required at bus stops will be required in relationto each individual bus bay. Additionalinformation will be required due to the greater complexity of bus stations,including for example information on way-finding around the stations itself andlocation signage.

Inlarge open spaces there may be a need for introducing tactile guidance pathsbut this should only be done after consultation with local blind, deafblind andpartially sighted people.

Travelinformation centres should be open at all reasonable times and capable ofhandling enquiries about all forms of local travel and interchange, includingaccessibility issues.

Theavailability of staff both in information and ticket offices and on anyconcourse helps improve information provision.Staff can perform a variety of roles and for blind, deafblind andpartially sighted people may be able to convey accurate information efficientlyand effectively.

Rail station information

Similarinformation would be required at rail stations to the above. Particular issues relevant to rail stationswould include ensuring adequate advance information of platform numbers toallow disabled people to travel safely and comfortably to the correct platform.

Unstaffedstations are a major concern of blind, deafblind and partially sightedpeople. The ability to deliverinformation to passengers is another reason to help justify increased staffingon stations. However, informationdelivery should not be solely dependent upon staff but available during allhours of operation.

On and within vehicle information

Itis important that people on transport services still have access toinformation. The type of informationthat is important includes the route and final destination, next destinationand any changes due to emergencies or alterations.

Bus

TheDisability Discrimination Act 1995 Accessibility Regulations for Public ServiceVehicles are yet to be finalised but it is unlikely that they will include arequirement for audible and visual announcements at this stage.

TheJoint Committee believes this is a missed opportunity and will continue topress for the inclusion of audible and visual announcements on public servicevehicles, on a similar basis as that required by the Rail Vehicle AccessibilityRegulations. It believes that providingaccessible information on buses and coaches would benefit all passengers andenable blind, deafblind and partially sighted people to travel in reasonablysafety and comfort.

Inthe absence of alternative systems there will remain an onus on the driver ofsuch services to provide information to blind, deafblind and partially sightedpeople. To deliver this informationaccurately and effectively drivers would benefit from disability equalitytraining, including consideration of different communication techniques.

Rail

Allnew rail vehicles introduced after 1^st January 1999 have had toprovide audible and visual information detailing the route anddestinations. The Joint Committeerecommends that existing vehicles aim to meet the same standards. The requirements specify;

PassengerInformation

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1. A regulated rail vehicle shall befitted with public address systems for audible and visual announcements insidethe passenger saloon and for visual announcements on the exterior of thevehicle.

2.The system for visual announcementson the exterior of the vehicle shall be fitted

a. to the front of the vehicle or,

b. where two or more vehicles arecoupled together as a train, to the front of the leading vehicle or,

c. where a vehicle is hauled by alocomotive to each side of the leading vehicle.

3.Whilst the vehicle is stationary at astation or a stop in a street or in any other place to which the public haveaccess, the systems inside the passenger saloon and on the exterior of thevehicle shall be used to announce the destination of the vehicle, or, if thevehicle is following a circular route, the name or number of the route, and, inthe case of systems inside the passenger saloon only, to announce the nextstop.

4.Subject to paragraph (5) the systemsinside the passenger saloon shall be used:

a. to announce the next station, orstop in a street or other place to which the public have access, at which thevehicle will be stopping, not less than once during the period beginning fiveminutes before the vehicle is expected by the operator's staff to stop at thatstation;

b. to announce any delay exceeding tenminutes to the scheduled timing for that journey;

c. to announce any diversions from theroute shown in the published timetable for that journey; and

d. to make emergency announcements.

5.Paragraph (4)(a) does not apply ifthe timetabled journey time between stations or stops in streets or in anyother place to which the public have access is less than two minutes.

6.Letters and numbers used on systemsfor visual announcements shall be not less than 125 millimetres high on theexterior of the vehicle and not less than 50 millimetres high inside thepassenger saloon, and shall contrast in colour and tone with their background.

7.Visual announcements inside thepassenger saloon shall be visible from each priority seat and each wheelchairspace.

Itis important that information delivered on bus and rail vehicles concerning thenext destination is available prior to arriving at the destination to allowpeople time to prepare to leave.

Taxi

Withintaxis and private hire vehicles the information is provided mainly through thedriver of the vehicle. This highlightsthe importance of including communication techniques within disability equalitytraining for drivers of such services.

Inthe future that Taxi licence numbers within vehicles should enable blind,deafblind and partially sighted people to identify the driver. Trials of such a system are likely inScotland. If successful, this should beused to establish standards throughout the United Kingdom.

Thedevelopment of a talking taxi meter should be encouraged to provide reassuranceto blind and partially sighted people that they are paying the correct fare.

Summary

Publictransport information is crucial to enabling blind, deafblind and partiallysighted people to decide whether and how they will travel. For blind, deafblind and partially sightedpeople information about the accessibility of services is also important.

Forpublic transport operators, good accessible information helps create a positiveimage for their services and can expand their passenger base. It is also essential for promoting newproducts, such as the introduction of accessible bus services, and maximisingthe value from that additional investment.

Informationcan be delivered in a variety of formats and through a variety of media. Before travel, this may include Braille,audio, disk and telephone services.During journeys, audible and visual information will be important, aswill the availability of staff, aware of different communication techniques.

Improvedinformation for blind, deafblind and partially sighted people will benefit allusers of public transport services.