The Scottish Equality and Human Rights Commission has sent a warning out to transport operators over accessibility for persons with disabilities.
“Transport operators must ensure equal access to public transport for all. They have clear responsibilities in law to ensure disabled people and older people travel with ease, but too often they fail to meet these obligations. We will vigorously defend the rights of disabled people and older people to use public transport” said Professor Lesley Sawers, Commissioner, Equality and Human Rights Commission Scotland
“Our Legal Support Project will provide funding and help to resolve complaints, but failing that, we will not be afraid to support a case to ensure that people can enforce their legal rights and seek redress. Older people and disabled people must be able to access and use public transport just like everybody else.”
The project is part of wider EHRC activity to encourage improvements to the transport industry’s policies and practice so that the needs of disabled people and older people are key considerations in the current and future design of public transport. It also aims to reduce gaps in legal protection for those affected.
The project is also intended to help gather information about discrimination in the transport sector against disabled people and older people, evidence of which may inform the EHRC’s enforcement work in the future.
