UNIACCESS Design of Universal Accessibility Systems for Public Transport SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME PRIORITY 6.2: Sustain

1. UNIACCESS Design of Universal Accessibility Systems for Public Transport SIXTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME PRIORITY 6.2: Sustainable Surface Transport FP6-2003-Transport-3

2. What is UNIACCESS? • 2-year Coordinated Action to define concepts for universal accessibility in public transport funded by 6FP • Goal:promote and support the networking coordination of research and innovation activities in the field of universal design of accessibility systems for public transport. • Partners: multi-sectoral (GIAT, ENIL, AGE, SINTEF, CRF, COCEMFE, STS, POLIS, RATP) • Group of experts

3. Why Uniaccess? • Society’s commitment to equality of opportunity yet • Public transport far from being universally accessible due to: • No accessibility provisions • Discontinuity in accessibility provisions • Accessible devices out of order • Public attitudes (PT staff and passengers) to people with mobility difficulties • Inclusive design principles more developed in building sector than transport sector

4. however • An accessible public transport system benefits all – the quality of a system is often a key factor in modal choice decisions • People with reduced mobility represent a hidden group of potential public transport users • More accessible transport can reduce the need for specialized transport means required by the elderly and disabled people

5. Main activities of Uniaccess • To collect useful state-of-the-art knowledge for designing universal accessibility system for public transport. • To produce a roadmap of future R&D in universal design • To come up with new R&D project proposals allows us to bridge the technology gaps. • To define an improved collaborative innovation process • To raise awareness of universal design

6. State of the art – Infrastructure • Retrofitting of older interchanges/ stations is expensive and full accessibility is difficult to achieve. • Furniture installed by service providers (cafes, shops, etc) is a major obstacle. • Verbal announcements are difficult to deliver due to multiplicity of noises & passenger complaints • Wide control gates encourage fraud. Control gates should offer a compromise between comfort for the users and fight against fraud • Illegal parking at bus stops is an obstacle to the deployment of accessible systems Zagreb Malmø

7. State of the art – Vehicles • Life of certain vehicles very long (especially trains & trams) and retrofitting often costly and not comprehensive. • Despite technological improvements (e.g., kneeling cushions, ramps, etc), boarding and disembarking is still a challenge for people with reduced mobility due to steps/gaps. • Ramps take time to open/close and, in the case of manual ramps, require the drivers assistance which inconveniences both drivers and other passengers due to time lost. • ‘Aggressive’ driving (e.g., bus pulling away before everyone seated) can discourage people with reduce mobility from using public transport. • Wheelchair users take more place in vehicles than other users and their evacuation can take longer.

8. State of the art – legislation & standards • Legislation on public transport accessibility in Europe varies widely in scope and structure. • Where legislation exists, it is not always adequately implemented due to lack of guidance, funding and enforcement. • Absence of public transport accessibility standards – industry is crying out for standards. • Legislation & standards alone will not deliver full accessibility. Policy and societal actions have role to play.

9. State of the art – Society • Lack of societal awareness about needs of people with reduced mobility. • Poor public transport staff attitudes towards PRM passengers (drivers under pressure to meet schedules). • The growing proportion of people who cannot use conventional public transport constitutes a significant cost for society due to necessity to use private car or to provide specialised transport - taxis, community buses, etc.

10. Roadmap for Future Research and Development State of the art Vision of the future Requirements Emerging concepts ROADMAP

11. R&D roadmap – overview

12. R&D roadmap – overview

13. Recommendation based on best practices Review of existing national legislation EU-wide guidance for accessible design EU standards for accessible design Guidance for design Guidance for good practice Develop indicators “Transport for all” reference manual Europe-wide non-discrimination legislation Equal opportunities throughout Europe Legislation, standardization, policy and society Create European- Level agency Single information source for equality information Define criteria, process and delivery Laws in case of non-compliance Accessibility certification Define vehicle accessibility criteria Establish classification classes Vehicle classification scheme Define vehicle classification criteria Voluntary versus compulsory classifications Possibilities of bonus-malus scheme Demonstration programme for accessible transport system Mainstreaming universal accessibility Reduce illegal parking Rise awareness of drivers Driving Behavior Actions to promote accessible Transport/ human diversity Human diversity module for school curriculum Education Short term Medium term Long term R&D Roadmap overview

14. Collaborative processes Our goal: Establish a closer link between stakeholders and define a new improved collaborative innovation process. How? • Examine current practice (how do designers, manufacturers, operators, authorities and end users currently interact). • Identify good practice • Prepare guidance for an enhanced ‘collaboration’

15. R&D project proposals Our goal: Define new project proposals that carry out the intentions of the roadmap of future R&D in the frame of the improved collaborative process previously defined

16. Dissemination & awareness raising • Quarterly newsletter • Workshop for local authorities: 20/21 March 06 • Key issues: communication & political support • Adopting universal accessibility principles in public transport design and delivery • Training manual • Training session, 8 November 2006, Brussels • UNIACCESS Conference: 9 November 2006, Brussels “Towards universal accessibility in public transport”

17. For more information • Visit our Website http://www.uniaccessproject.org • Contact project coordinator: Sara Sillauren, Euve-Giat, email: sillaurrens@euve.org • Subscribe to our electronic newsletter on: http://www.uniaccessproject.org