The goal of the Inclusive Transport Strategy is to create a transport system that offers equal access for disabled passengers by 2030, with assistance if physical infrastructure remains a barrier.

The progress report states that a number of the commitments of the strategy have been paused or delayed due to the impact of COVID-19 on the transport industry and the wider travelling public. The report makes clear where coronavirus has had particular impacts.

Progress is measured against the following five headings:

1. awareness of passenger rights and enforcement – working to ensure that all passengers know what service they can expect and have the assurance that reporting non-compliance will lead to enforcement action
2. better staff training – to ensure that transport staff have greater understanding of the needs of disabled passengers and their legal rights, and therefore provide better assistance
3. improved information – so that information is provided in forms that all passengers can access and understand, both before and during a journey
4. inclusive physical infrastructure – taking steps to ensure that vehicles, stations and streetscapes are designed and built so they are inclusive and easy to use
5. future of inclusive transport – ensuring that new technologies and future transport systems are designed from the outset with disabled people in mind

Further, a summary of progress is provided on these areas:

• the research, and monitoring and evaluation work being undertaken to understand the impact of the ITS
• ongoing work to deliver an accessible transport system

For the full progress report please see here. 

The Department for Transport also announced funding for projects providing a range of practical solutions that remove physical barriers, make it easier to access information, automate processes or see better support for travellers. They could include:

• ways for visually-impaired passengers to identify the bus they want to catch
• smartphone apps to report inaccessibility and track progress
• a Wayfinder-style system to plan bus journeys

For full details of the announcement of accessibility funding please see here.