ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights some recent developments in different parts of Scotland – its rural areas, its major conurbation in Strathclyde and around its capital city, Edinburgh. As far as ’mobility handicap’ amongst disabled and elderly people in the community is concerned, i.e. difficulties posed by inappropriate or inaccessible transportation, the total number in Scotland can be placed at about 350,000, although the travel needs of the different age groups has particularly to be borne in mind. Dial-a-bus continues to operate as a demand-responsive service. It is available only to those who have a mobility handicap which prevents them from using local public transport services. Training programmes have been developed by at least one bus company in Strathclyde to cover issues concerning transporting mobility handicapped people. Before dial-a-bus services were introduced in February 1988, bus crews attended a day’s training session with the council’s social work department.
