ABSTRACT
Being committed to developing an accessible transport system for all, Transport for London (TfL) have ensured that their bus fleet is now completely accessible to wheelchair users through ramp access and specified wheelchair spaces on every bus in service in the Capital. With the increasing use of motorised scooters by people with a range of mobility
problems it is now being argued, by some, that scooter access to the transport network is important to allow those with mobility impairments to be able to travel freely, and that this should form part of any accessible transport service, alongside wheelchair access. TfL are concerned that their Current Conditions of Carriage for buses do not give
bus drivers or the general public enough clarity about the types of scooters which might be able to access their bus fleet. TfL therefore wished to undertake research to inform the development of a clear and consistent policy towards the access of mobility scooters onto the bus fleet for all the relevant stakeholders, including London bus companies, their drivers, users of mobility scooters, wheelchairs and the wider public. TfL envisaged that such research would establish which scooter models were
suitable for access to the bus fleet, identify the key stakeholders and ensure that the conclusions could be communicated clearly to them. Previous researchby theDepartment forTransport: Carriage ofMobilityScooters
on Public Transport (2007) recommended that only scooters of a comparable size
to conventional wheelchairs be allowed access onto public transport. It also identified further issues with the carriage of scooters that required clarification and whichTfLwished to investigate by commissioning research specific to LondonBus Services. CCD is a human factors and design consultancy specialising in the usable design
of public transport vehicles, systems and infrastructure. CCD supported their research by drawing upon the facilities and capabilities of partners Ricability and MIRA, in order to develop a project team offering countless benefits. CCD ran and led the research programme and produced a final report detailing
the findings. Ricability supported the scooter access user-trials design by CCD, specifically
providing and organising access to their established panel of mobility impaired trials participants and securing suitable models of scooters.
