Letter to the Editor - The Age - Public transport should be accessible

07 November 2005

A good hard look at Melbourne's public transport system provides an ideal opportunity to make changes to the public system that take into account all members of the community, including those people who have a disability.

This includes consideration of super stops for trams to allow wheelchair access, accessible buses available on all routes and ensuring those in our community who have a disability have equal access to our train systems. The Equal Opportunity Commission receives various complaints which relate to the challenges associated with public transport use. These relate to having accessible buses timetable so that people know when they can be accessed, the use of elevators at train stations for those people with a disability rather than escalators, the availability of clear signage for those people who are visually impaired, and of course the ongoing problems with multipurpose taxis and their availability.

Almost 20% of people in the community have a disability.

If we include just one carer supporting each of these people we are talking about 40% of the population directly affected by disability.

This is a significant segment of the community which public transport providers are obliged to service under national standards. Under the State Equal Opportunity Act it is against the law to discriminate against someone because of their disability in the provision of a service.

We need to remember that people with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else including access to public spaces and public transport.

We must make sure that the future, which inevitably will involve major infrastructure overhauls, is a universally accessible future for all who use the public transport system.

Helen Szoke
Chief Executive Officer
Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria