approach

Take a whole of journey approach to mobility, promoting inclusive access for all

GOAL

6

Goal 6 aims to support a whole of journey approach from planning a journey to arriving at the final destination and make sustainable mobility accessible and affordable to everyone. A whole of journey approach is also supported under Goals 7 and 10 through implementing a universal design approach to the design of new and retrofitted infrastructure; adherence to the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets; and promoting integrated mobility through innovative technologies.

A key priority is enabling ‘Access for All’ through the provision of sustainable mobility infrastructure and services that are accessible for all users, and especially for people with disabilities, reduced mobility and older people. This concept is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, the Disability Act 2005 and national strategies including the National Disability Inclusion Strategy and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities.

them accessible. A lot of work has already been undertaken in recent years to retrofit bus and train stations to provide enhanced accessibility for people with reduced mobility, but further work is required to ensure that all stations are fully accessible. Investment in bus stops including upgraded poles and stop information throughout the country will continue to improve the accessibility of the bus network for all users. Other elements are also important to support a whole of journey approach such as decluttering footpaths; dished crossing for wheelchair users; provision of continuous footpaths and cycle tracks across side road junctions and property entrances; wider cycle facilities to accommodate cyclists with disabilities; removal of access controls (kissing gates) that prohibit wheelchair

We will continue to progressively make our walking, cycling and public transport networks more accessible by ensuring that new infrastructure and services are accessible from the start and retrofitting older facilities to make

National Sustainable Mobility Policy | Principle 2: People Focused Mobility

users and non-traditional bicycles; audible pedestrian crossings; along with the provision of information in accessible formats.

19 and 23 years old to avail of a 50% discount across all subsidised public transport services, including city, intercity and rural services. This will likely be implemented using the Leap card platform where a personalised Young Adult Card will be issued to those eligible and which expires on the cardholders 24th birthday. Consideration will be given to including mature students in full time study in the programme. The 50% fare will be set at half of the standard adult single fare on most networks. For some operators, the discount may be achieved by setting the daily and weekly caps at 50% of the standard cap.

Infrastructure improvements will be complemented by continuing operational initiatives to make public transport services more accessible. These initiatives include the Travel Assistance Scheme, the Just a Minute (JAM) Card, disability awareness training for staff, and public transport disability user groups.

As part of the BusConnects programme in the cities, fares will be simplified to make interchange seamless. This will be achieved by introducing time-based fares structures which are common across all modes. This stage of implementation has already taken place in the Dublin region with a 90 minute fare that allows multiple trips across and between bus, rail and light rail with the final leg commencing within 90 minutes of the start of the first leg.

A new fares strategy will also be developed and implemented to ensure an equitable fares system for all applicable subsidised services. A more equitable structure will seek to ensure fares are distance-based for all non-urban public transport while also supporting premium fares for fast or express services. Metropolitan fares will not be purely distance based to support the need for simple structures to support inter-modal travel and fast boarding/alighting.

Alongside this, a Young Adult Travel Card will be initially introduced to allow young adults between

Figure from page 48

National Sustainable Mobility Policy | Principle 2: People Focused Mobility

Case Study | Travel Assistance Scheme

The Travel Assistance Scheme, which was introduced in 2007, is funded by the NTA and managed by Dublin Bus. It is free of charge and available to anyone over the age of 18. Through the scheme, people with disabilities, reduced mobility and older people can avail of assistance and practical advice on how to travel independently on journeys on bus, DART, or Luas, within the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). The scheme aims to help participants increase their confidence in using public transport whether travelling to job interviews, hospital appointments or social events.

assistants assist users over multiple days and users are assisted with both the outbound and the return journeys as they can differ. The travel assistants also try out the journeys themselves, adopting methods to mirror disabilities (for example using black out glasses).

In 2019 the Travel Assistance Scheme provided over 1,200 travel assists, giving customers who may require assistance the confidence to travel independently across public transport in the GDA. Travel assistants also attended 31 meetings with groups to talk about the safest way to travel by public transport.

With the help of a travel assistant, a tailormade travel plan is drawn up to meet each individual customer’s needs. The travel

The Travel Assistance Scheme will now be expanded beyond the GDA to the other cities.

National Sustainable Mobility Policy | Principle 2: People Focused Mobility