Most modern transit systems were built without accessibility in mind. That’s finally being addressed. With legal mandates tightening and demand for inclusive travel growing, accessibility is a priority transport operators, authorities and agencies can’t afford to delay.
Why accessibility in transport can’t wait
Populations are aging, and the number of people living with disabilities is continuing to rise. The industry acknowledges that stepping up with accessible services is imperative, to ensure mobility networks are resilient, future-proof, and reflective of the communities they serve.
Around the world, operators and authorities are striving to make transport work for everyone, everywhere, every time. They are investing in accessible digital services, physical infrastructure, and customer support that ensures that everyone can access and use transport with confidence.
While accessibility is a fundamental responsibility to serve every community member, and not just not just a compliance exercise, action is being accelerated by increasingly robust regulations worldwide.
How accessibility regulations compare around the world
Accessibility legislation may differ in detail, but the goal is the same: to ensure that public transport is inclusive and accessible to everyone, without exception.
Note: This table highlights just a few of the major accessibility regulations in public transport across the globe. Many other countries and regions are also advancing significant reforms and retrofitting efforts to improve accessibility.
The foundations of accessibility
Globally, five principles sit at the heart of an inclusive transport system:
- Universal design: Every aspect of a transport system that users experience – stations, vehicles, ticket machines, websites, apps – must be intuitive for people of all abilities.
- Accessible information: Timetables, real-time updates, signage, and announcements need to be clear and consistent, delivered in multiple audio and visual formats.
- Testing and iterating: It’s essential to involve disabled passengers in testing and evolving solutions based on their feedback, to ensure they work for real people in real situations.
- Ongoing maintenance: Accessibility improvements must be always ongoing – operators and authorities should carry out regular assessments, technological updates, and staff training.
- Accountability: There should be simple, transparent ways for passengers to raise issues, with responses from operators, and from regulators when needed.
None of these principles are ‘extra work’ or simply box-ticking. They are common sense practices for creating transport networks that fulfill their purpose: connecting people, safely and reliably.