April 2025 Newsletter Accessible Transport / Travel

Words from George

CEO

My first mode of transport is my wheelchair!

Pockets of Inclusive transport doesn’t work! Your luxury is our necessity for our daily living to be active in the community.

A failed or broken system makes travelling very difficult for people with disability. Society overkills our challengers for what you do without thinking, such a gaining employment or going to school. Is this substandard working for you? It’s definitely not working for us!

Words from our Writer

Kay

Hi everyone, Kay here.

I’m back after a long break …. The topic I’ll be talking to you about today is accessible transport.

First, I will share that I use a mixture of accessible transport –

*public transport

*a privately paid wheelchair accessible taxi service

*and our family van.

When I want to access the community, either by myself or with my support worker, I call my preferred personal taxi driver and tell him what time to pick me up, where I want to go and what time I finish. THEN, if he is unavailable I will try my other drivers.

I pay the travel charges with my NDIS transport money that I receive every fortnight.

If there are NO wheelchair accessible vehicles available, luckily I can ask my parents because my parents bought a modified van with an electric hoist. It comes in handy in case of an emergency. I think that if my parents didn’t own a modified van, it would be hard to get out and around the community.

In terms of public transport, firstly not all train stations have a lift and not all buses have foldable ramps for wheelchairs to get in. Secondly, trains do not take you to your exact destination, so this means I would need to organise a transport link of some sort.

Until recently, I wasn’t able to catch the train to go places. Instead, I had to use the bus which only stops near my house every hour. That means that if I miss it, I have to wait a whole hour for the next bus. It was time consuming.

It’s good to see train stations being upgraded, for example, Chester Hill train station is finally getting a lift. It’s literally a 10-minute walk from my house so that will make a difference.

I’m hoping to see more accessible public transport, as well as buildings and other spaces designed to include everyone.

Findings about Accessible Travel

Solution Ideas Cafe’s

Safety on Public Transport

A main issue in discussion was SAFETY ON PUBLIC BUSES. Bus driver hospitality for people with disability is at a minimum! Here’s how –

Bus ramps are not always offered to be lowered down!

Strapping the wheelchair is not offered!

Wheelchairs move during the bus trip!

Public transport on the TRAINS raised concerns for –

Space for Wheelchairs when travelling during peak hour was limited on the train. It is advised for people with disability to travel next to the guards carriage for safety and visual access to the train guard.

Safe travelling for people in wheelchairs – it was suggested by people with lived experience to station (place) your wheelchair facing the doors to maintain traction while the train is moving in and out of destination stops. The force of the train moving when braking or accelerating may cause your wheelchair to move out of your control, causing injury.

Lift or ramp access to and from the boarding platforms!

Train guards identifying hidden disabilities – now offering a sunflower lanyard!

Safety around roads

The main issues discussed for people with disability travelling around the community, was safety and considerations around roads. It was noted that councils should do better! Here’s how –

Some gutter ramps were too steep moving up to the footpath or coming down on to cross the road. Other concerns was the lack of knowledge about the uneven surfaces on footpaths, some with dangerous ‘tip’ concerns for people in wheelchairs!

Not all roads are flat, as perceived. Some roads have a major bow (hump) in the middle of road, which makes loading and unloading wheelchairs at the gutter, very difficult. It also made crossing the road time consuming, maneuvering a pushchair up and down a slope. Major bows in the road, made finding suitable loading and unloading wheelchairs very tricky.

Although the roads are designed for vehicles (car, trucks, bikes), people are not aware that wheelchairs are also a form of transport for people with disability. Vehicle courtesy and manners around wheelchairs can be invasive and dangerous. People using both electric and push chairs have had vehicles move around them at close proximity!

Safety travelling Interstate and Internationally.

People with disability also enjoy traveling interstate and internationally for leisure and business. Train travel to the regional areas offer accessible seating options in the baggage area of the ‘country trains’. One concern from a person with a disability was ‘I travelled to Newcastle with a friend and I was facing the wall for the whole trip! And it was cold and noisy!’ While there are options coming in, considerations for long distance travel focused around preparation. Here’s how –

There are new regional / interstate trains from Transport NSW. One is called the Mariyung with improved access for wheelchairs and accessible bathrooms! What a change up! Click the link to find out more – https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/mariyung-fleet

Traveling on planes can come at a cost for people with disability. One comment from a person with a disability spoke about ‘being denied entry onto the plane because of his disability!’. While a person can do their best to organise a trip overseas, company operations are out of our reach. Contacting the medical desk just wasn’t enough. One company that can help with gaining access to your seat on the plane is Haycomp. Their aviation lifter device can transfer you from the plane door to your seat. The lifter has adjustable hydraulics that maneuvers through the narrow isles. The lifters are available at various airport destinations around the world to make your transfer more dignified! Click the link to find out more – https://www.haycomp.com.au/

Travelling interstate does not always allow the option of planes for people with a disability. Coach travel was never an option but Greyhound buses has now opened their options to a niche community and created accessible lifters for people with chairs, charge points so people with life-support devices can keep them charged on long trip and considerations for hidden disabilities. One person with a disability told a story of moving from northern Queensland to New South Wales. In her move, she organised private transport across the boarder. Had she known about Greyhound buses, she would of used that option to Brisbane then the private transport from Brisbane to Sydney! Easy Access services was opened in 2024. Click the link to find out more https://www.greyhound.com.au/travel-information/travel-assistance/easy-access-services

Safe travelling everyone!