12.09.14
New technologies to improve public transport access to go on show in London
New and innovative technologies to help older and disabled people on public transport will be on display at a special Transport for London ‘Access All Areas’ exhibition next month, including life-sized mock-ups of Tube and rail stations.
The free event, to be held on 2 October at ExCel London, aims to raise awareness of the new innovations TfL are investing in to improve accessibility and also provide a safe environment for disabled people to try them out.
It comes after research showed that 61% of London’s one million disabled people would like to make more public transport journeys.
Some of the interactive exhibits include life-sized mock-ups of Underground and rail stations, with a new ‘bridge-style’ ramp onto trains.
London’s deputy mayor for transport, Isabel Dedring, said: “Making London's transport network more accessible is a top priority for the Mayor. To boost accessibility we have recently introduced the UK's first bridge style ramp on the Underground and a new 'turn up and go' service on London Overground. Of course, there is still more to do and that is why we have a raft of improvements planned to make it easier to travel around the capital.”
Attendees will be able to take part in seminars hosted by TfL board member Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Tube managing director Mike Brown and surface transport managing director Leon Daniels.
They will also be able to see new technologies in an “innovation zone”, take part in workshops and see exhibitions from leading rail companies.
TfL’s managing director of planning, Michele Dix, said, “We’re trying to make the TfL network more accessible every year, partly through major infrastructure change, such as putting in new lifts, where we can, but just as importantly through the applied use of new innovations such as manual boarding ramps.
“This exhibition is a chance for everyone to experience some of these innovations in a controlled environment, and to become a bit more familiar with our network.”
Power wheelchair user Jeff Harvey from campaigning charity Transport for All and the Brent Transport Action Group wrote a guest blog for the RTM website in July explaining his experiences. You can find that here.
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