For an efficient transport, the accessibility is a key factor for passenger flows and the infrastructure segment dedicated to disabled people plays an important role. It includes the infrastructure elements in stopping areas, stations, hubs, but also in public transport vehicles. In view of the London Olympic Games 2012, the authorities invest in projects for facilitating the accessibility to public transport, in order to allow this passenger segment to use public transport much easier.
In order to have an increased accessibility degree, authorities must elaborate and implement strategies taking into account all the means of transport, the identification of new initiatives for the access and implementation of projects for ensuring the passenger flow. Since 10 million tickets are estimated to be sold during the Olympic Games, the public transport system must be accessible. For instance, for the (2012) Olympic Games in London, the authorities have considered developing projects for 13 types of transport which could be used by disabled people. The Department for Transport (DfT) has launched the programme “Safe access for everybody” (ever since 2006) in which it invested GBP 370 Million (EUR 430 Million), and until 2015 it estimates an yearly investment of GBP 35 Million (EUR 40 Million) for removing obstacles, increasing accessibility of routes and stations, approximately 100 stations being equipped by the end of 2011. In addition, according to the financing schedule, GBP 7 Million will be granted each year for implementing innovative solutions for the access to the transport stations.
As regards the underground transport, the London Subway has implemented the programme “Step-Free” which provides accessible routes from the street level to the platforms. 25% of the network is expected to have this type of access by 2012. Likewise, 175 subway stations will be mo-dernised until 2012, the equipping being pursued for the supply of visual and auditory information, improvement of rails by adapting them to appropriate heights, removal, modification or emphasis of obstacles, provision of visual contrasts between the information points and the help points, modernisation of signals and pictograms, mounting surfaces for tactile warning areas (at stairs). In order to allow disabled persons to use the transport system, additional measures must be implemented. The authorities are also implementing a feasibi-lity study for the availability of park & ride projects (dedicated to people with reduced mobility) which will be directly connected to the underground network in order to encourage this category of passengers.
The increase of the accessibility degree, as well as the challenges for ensuring an operational transport system are some of the topics to be debated during the 4th edition of Intermodes, held in Brussels in February 2012.
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