Transport for London is “lacking depth and nuance” when it comes to engaging with the needs of disabled people travelling around the capital, a City Hall report has concluded.
The London Assembly Transport Committee have said that TfL’s efforts to make public transport more accessible – including launching a new strategy in 2024 – are “surface level” and is putting off those with extra or special needs from using the network entirely, reports Harrow Online.
During a months-long investigation, the committee looked at the transport barriers faced by London’s 1.2million-strong disabled population, parents with young children and the growing number of elderly Londoners. Elly Baker, chair of the Transport Committee, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “This report looks at structural problems that TfL have in terms of collecting data, using data, and then how they translate that into the decisions they make, and also how they engage with people.
“We just want to embed better ways of engaging with people in their organisation. That won’t solve the problem entirely – it’s a cultural change that is needed – but it will be part of it.
“Fundamentally, I think, one of the things that we identify is that TfL have an Equity in Motion strategy, but that strategy is effectively lots of good things that they are already doing. What they haven’t done is take a good, long look at themselves and ask if they are valuing everyone’s journey appropriately, looking at the data, speaking to people, and see what other people would say are the most important things to do, and not assuming they know.
“So we’re really just asking them to be more open, be more reflective, and maybe change course a little bit. It’s definitely not a lack of care. But TfL has been around for 25 years now and has had no positive competition in this country. And I think it’s resting on its laurels a little bit.
“Over that 25 years, thinking has changed in the way we analyse all sorts of aspects of inclusion. And I just think that’s not being reflected enough in TfL.”
(Picture: CameraCraft8)
