Under-Secretary of State for Transport Simon Lightwood (pictured, second from left) has urged bus operators to make further improvements to accessibility of services.
Mr Lightwood made the call while visiting Brighton and Hove Buses to mark International Day of People with Disabilities on 3 December. He saw one of what the Department for Transport (DfT) calls “the UK’s most accessible buses” in a fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro400s used on the Coaster route between Brighton and Eastbourne.
The minister also spoke with disabled passengers who rely on buses, hearing how their input contributed to the Coaster vehicles’ design and how those buses’ accessibility features have left them more confident in travelling by bus.
A further part of his visit was to hear about “gold standard” driver training to support visually impaired passengers. That course was created by Brighton and Hove Buses in partnership with Sight Loss Councils and it is endorsed by DVSA and the Confederation of Passenger Transport.
Mr Lightwood has encouraged other operators to follow the lead of Brighton and Hove, with DfT noting that the training is available to all bus operators across the country.
Brighton and Hove Accessibility and Communities Manager Victoria Garcia (pictured, left) formed part of the group that received Mr Lightwood. She has previously explained to routeone the work that went into the Coaster Enviro400 fleet and how the operator engaged with stakeholders on the development of those vehicles.
Speaking about the visit, Mr Lightwood says: “We want to build a transport system that works for everyone, and Brighton and Hove Buses is leading the way in making this a reality for bus passengers.
“Speaking with local disabled people, it was made clear how much they value these services, and we want operators across the country to learn from this leading approach – enabling everyone to travel with confidence.”
Brighton and Hove Buses Managing Director Ed Wills (pictured, second from right) has underlined comments about the importance of accessibility. He notes that building further inclusivity “is an important part of our ongoing partnership work with Brighton and Hove City Council and local community groups to improve our network for all customers.”
DfT notes that when spending their recently announced Bus Service Improvement Plan funding allocations for FY2025/26, local authorities should consider the impact on accessibility.
