ABSTRACT
The nations that make up Europe, whether within the formal definition of the European Community, or in the wider geographical sense, represent a multitude of different social, economic and political traditions. Developments in the field of transport for people with disabilities are totally dependent on economic, social and political attitudes and priorities, and so the rate of progress and indeed the direction of progress is again widely diverse. Comprehensive guides on transport facilities for disabled people have recently been published in France and the UK and are under preparation in the Federal Republic of Germany. In Finland, a working group representing the Transport Ministry and representatives of all the public transport operators is working on the development of minimum service standards for public transport which, although not legally binding, will be regulated through the issuing of licences and the granting of government subsidies.
