Transport for London announces new ‘Equity in Motion’ scheme

Credit: Transport for London – James Lee from TfL’s Independent Disability Advisory Group uses the new mini ramp at Tottenham Hale station.

Transport for London (TfL) has announced new customer plans to help build a fairer, more accessible and inclusive transport network for everyone. Our new plan, Equity in Motion, includes over 80 new ambitious actions to build on TfL and the Mayor of London’s ongoing work to build a fairer and safer London. ing.

The plan’s wide-ranging initiatives cover key areas of improvement around accessible travel, ensuring customer safety, customer understanding, affordable travel, comprehensive information and connecting with Londoners.

The plan calls for innovation across London’s Underground (Tube) network to be implemented by summer 2024, with stations designated as step-free from road to train, but with small gaps between trains and platforms. We are committed to introducing a new bridging device. More than 45 mini-ramps have now been introduced across the network, and this follows his TfL trials in 2022 on the Jubilee line. The device is designed to provide customers with extra support and peace of mind, with TfL research showing that 63% of respondents are likely to travel with this device. It has been.

New research will also be carried out to understand the needs of different communities across London, and TfL will establish a new comprehensive Design Center of Excellence. TfL will also review its approach to translating communications into different languages, including British Sign Language (BSL), increase the number of step-free access stations and expand Project Guardian school sessions on sexual harassment to encourage people to report crimes. We are also planning to consider making it easier. , anti-social behavior, discrimination and safety concerns. These improvements, some of which are already underway, will help everyone feel welcome on our transport network, allowing more people to travel with confidence and ease.

Millions of Londoners face barriers to accessing public transport, with almost a third of the capital’s population living in poverty and over 15% reported to be disabled. doing. Factors such as poor street conditions, toxic air and road hazards negatively impact all Londoners, but disproportionately impact marginalized groups.

These bold new initiatives are part of a number of actions the Mayor of London is taking to achieve the goals of his transport strategy and move London forward in a safe, inclusive and sustainable manner. The plan focuses on creating an equitable customer experience, protecting travelers, increasing connectivity, keeping travel affordable, and reducing health disparities, and includes a number of short-term and long-term initiatives. Masu.

Some measures will be implemented in 2024 and others by 2030, subject to government funding. The plan’s promises include:

accessible travel

• Increase in the proportion of step-free metro stations – Since Sadiq Khan became mayor, the proportion of metro stations with step-free access has increased from a quarter to a third. Under this new plan, the proportion of access stations without steps will increase by half.
• Introducing mini-slopes on every London Underground platform to bridge the gap between the train and the platform, allowing boarding without any steps.
• Launch of innovation challenge aimed at improving travel for people with disabilities
• Dedicated space for wheelchair users and buggies added to Bakerloo, Central, Waterloo and City Line trains
• Carry out a feasibility study into how TfL can increase the provision of toilets to customers.
• Priority seat moquettes will be installed on 1,000 Routemaster buses by 2025
• Deliver a new Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) awareness program and support TfL staff with training.

Keep your customers safe

• TfL’s Project Guardian school sessions on sexual harassment expanded to 28,000 Year 9 students
• Make it easier for customers to report crime, anti-social behavior and safety concerns, including adding reporting to TfL’s website and TfL Go app by 2026
• Train staff to reduce all forms of harassment and support victims
• Use safety audits to collect data to inform how public spaces are designed to improve safety for all customers, including women, girls, and gender diverse populations.
• A series of innovation challenges to reduce discrimination and improve bus and escalator safety
• We will continue to work with communities on streetscape design plans, including bus infrastructure such as bus stop bypasses.

understand your customers

• Creation of a new comprehensive design center of excellence
• Research to understand the needs of different communities in London, including LGBTQ+ people
• A review of TfL’s approach to customer and stakeholder engagement to ensure diverse voices are represented.
• Frontline staff complete disability equality training.

Travel more affordably

• New travel discount scheme offering half-price bus and tram travel to eligible care leavers.
• Investigating how the cost of travel impacts people with protected characteristics to inform TfL’s investment priorities.

comprehensive information

• Introducing self-service to Dial-a-Ride, allowing you to book, change, and cancel your trip
• A review of TfL’s approach to translating communications into different languages, including British Sign Language.
• A virtual tool will be added to the TfL Go app and website to help customers better understand the accessibility of their transport network.
• Introducing hundreds of new real-time information displays at bus stops and evacuation centers
• We will review wayfinding at interchanges to ensure routes that meet diverse needs.

Connecting Londoners

• Comprehensiveness audits near stations and development sites
• Research to improve understanding of barriers to crossing protected characteristic groups
• Expand electric bicycle rental.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “London is for everyone and we are committed to making our transport network as fair and accessible as possible so all Londoners can make the most of this great city. is.

“TfL is committed to removing the barriers people face when using our transport network and enabling more people to travel independently, seamlessly and easily. Many more improvements are already underway and will help us continue to build a better, fairer London for everyone.”

Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at Transport for London, said: “Our vision is a London where everyone can move around the city safely, inclusively and sustainably, and access to public transport is a fundamental element of achieving this.” has taken steps to make its network more accessible, but recognizes that more needs to be done. Equity in Motion draws on the experiences and perspectives of a diverse range of Londoners to prioritize areas for improvement and create concrete actions to drive change and make London a truly fair city. ”

TfL has already begun work on many of the plan’s longer-term initiatives, including improving HGV safety standards, opening new cycle lanes and reducing road hazards across London. Other long-term initiatives include further improving restrooms across the network.

Agnes Fletcher, member of Transport for London’s Independent Disability Advisory Group, said:

“All Londoners will benefit from the changes the city promises, including more affordable travel and cleaner air. And people with disabilities, long-term health conditions and neurodivergent conditions will Our transport network will allow you to access more of London safely and comfortably.

“People with disabilities are part of every demographic and every community. Just getting around can be a challenge to the challenges we face, whether it’s getting to work, accessing healthcare, seeing family and friends, or accessing all the great things London has to offer. Barriers to action can be reduced or removed by taking actionable actions like Equity in Motion. The result is a cleaner, greener, more active and fun London that everyone can enjoy. It makes you feel important.”