By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
routeonerouteonerouteone
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Search
© 2024 routeone News. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: PSVAR review call for evidence is published by DfT
Share
Font ResizerAa
routeonerouteone
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd
- Advertisement -
-
routeone > Accessible Transport > PSVAR review call for evidence is published by DfT
Accessible TransportBusCoachNewsOperatorsTop StoryVehicles

PSVAR review call for evidence is published by DfT

Tim Deakin
Tim Deakin
Published: June 13, 2023
Share
PSVAR review call for evidence is published by DfT
SHARE

The Department for Transport (DfT) published its keenly-anticipated call for evidence on the review of PSVAR on 12 June. It immediately drew claims from RHA that the rationale driving the review is flawed due to a continuing failure to address roadside infrastructure.

Contents
Call for evidence shows change to PSVAR still a way offComplicated process lies ahead, document revealsScope of PSVAR services could be revised, evidence call notesInfrastructure considered at last – but with little conviction

The evidence gathering exercise seeks to address gaps in DfT’s understanding of PSVAR by soliciting information on the current effectiveness, and the potential evolution, of the Regulations. It is central to the PSVAR review, which was announced over two years ago.

Unveiling of the extensive and wide-ranging call for evidence follows disclosure in late March that it was imminent. Under-Secretary of State for Transport Richard Holden has described it as “a significant opportunity to inform the government’s understanding of the accessibility of our public service vehicles” and encouraged responses.

Among objectives of the review are understanding how PSVAR may evolve to better meet disabled people’s needs, and identifying where policy development might be necessary so that future decisions around the Regulations are made with a better grasp of those; and understanding the perspectives of disabled people and operators and builders of PSVs.

To do that, the call for evidence seeks to understand the extent to which PSVAR has enabled disabled people to travel; investigate how passengers’ needs have changed since the Regulations came into force; explore how PSVs may evolve to better meet disabled people’s needs; and identify innovation in accessibility features, such as lifts on coaches.

Call for evidence shows change to PSVAR still a way off

As is customary in a call for evidence, phrasing and questions are broad-brush in the PSVAR document. Six sections are explored, with questions around each:

  • Application of PSVAR
  • Accessibility features of PSVs
  • Approaches to regulation
  • Decarbonisation and PSVAR
  • Enforcement
  • Roadside infrastructure, conduct and other issues.

While PSVAR in recent years has been primarily a concern for the coach industry, the call for evidence makes clear that potential amendment to how the Regulations are applied to buses is not off the table.

However, the government’s response to the call for evidence will not set out what, if any, alterations could be made to PSVAR. Rather, it is “an opportunity to gather evidence and identify where respondents think that change may be needed,” the paper says. “This will form the basis of further engagement and policy exploration.”

Complicated process lies ahead, document reveals

DfT cautions that should respondents indicate that they want to see change to PSVAR, various considerations must be borne in mind. Some amendments – such as to scope of the Regulations – could be achieved relatively easily via standard legislative processes.

PSVAR review call for evidence published by DfT
The call for evidence makes clear that changes to vehicle access aids via the PSVAR review will not be a straightforward exercise for the government

Making other revisions would be more complicated. The call for evidence cites changes to accessibility features as an example of that.

With the exception of destination displays, all are regulated by UNECE Regulation 107 (UN 107). PSVAR may not “significantly diverge” from what is laid down there.

As a result, the UK would need to secure change to UN 107 before it could start to alter parts of PSVAR that are subject to those agreements. “Any proposed changes would require successful negotiation with the other signatories to UN 107. That will take time and the outcome is uncertain,” the call for evidence notes.

Any eventual proposals for change would be consulted upon. While challenging UN 107 clearly appeals little to the government, the call for evidence does not rule it out if the amendments are determined to be beneficial.

Scope of PSVAR services could be revised, evidence call notes

As the type and range of services that PSVAR applies to falls outside of UN 107, that opens the door to proposed amendments there following the review. Indeed, exploring the range of vehicles that PSVAR captures is cited as one of six focus areas of the work.

In something of a loaded question, the call for evidence presents a list of services that are currently out of scope of and asks those respondents who believe that the scope of PSVAR should be changed which of them should be brought under the Regulations.

Those listed include tour and charter services, along with vehicles with a capacity of 22 of fewer passengers. However, respondents may alternatively submit services that they believe should be removed from scope of PSVAR.

On decarbonisation, the promised section is included in the call for evidence, although the questions in that area are of little substance. Also posed are questions around whether the approach to enforcement should change.

Infrastructure considered at last – but with little conviction

In a notable change, the influence of roadside infrastructure on vehicle accessibility is mentioned in the call for evidence. Infrastructure “goes hand in hand” with delivering an accessible coach or bus service, although DfT notes that “it is not possible” for PSVAR to be extended to regulate infrastructure.

PSVAR review call for evidence published by the government
Infrastructure is largely paid lip service in the call for evidence, although there is now a recognition of its relevant to the overall journey accessibility

Nevertheless, as part of the evidence gathering, the Department wants to understand views on, and experiences of, that aspect.

“The feedback that we receive will be considered alongside research being undertaken… that explores the impact of roadside infrastructure on passenger convenience, safety, security and accessibility,” it adds.

That approach to infrastructure has drawn the ire of RHA. It has underlined a belief that the relevance of this area to PSVAR is not taken seriously enough by the government. While the trade body has welcomed the call for evidence, it believes that there are “widespread concerns that the underlying rationale driving the PSVAR review is flawed.”

Operators have also long argued that the Regulations overlook roadside infrastructure and the improvements needed to make coach and bus travel fully accessible, RHA says. It wants a shift away from vehicle design towards the customer and their journey.

Deadline for submissions to the call for evidence is 2345hrs on 4 September. They can be made online, via email or by post. A response from the government outlining the next steps for PSVAR will be published before the end of 2023.

View the full call for evidence document here.

Share This Article
Facebook LinkedIn Threads Email Copy Link
ByTim Deakin
Tim is Editor of routeone and has worked in both the coach and bus and haulage industries.
Previous Article Yutong TCe12 for AirSym Pelican to demonstrate TCe12 at Scottish roadshows
Next Article Autonomous bus at Didcot Parkway station UK’s first electric autonomous bus hits the roads in Oxfordshire
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Go-Ahead London – Managing Director
Careers Jobs
andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
TfGM’s all-electric bus plan boosted by new £15.6 billion package
News
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Bus
Contract pricing conundrum for coach and bus
Contract pricing conundrum: Unlikely to get easier any time soon
Editor's Comment
- Advertisement -
-

routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach, bus and minibus operators. The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies, routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Policy
  • Sustainability
  • Advertise
  • Latest Issue
  • Share Your News
routeonerouteone
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd