The Department for Transport (DfT) has formalised new guidance aimed at improving accessibility across the bus industry, following recommendations agreed by the Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel.
Published on 21 September, the guidance is intended for organisations involved in designing, specifying, procuring and operating buses. The recommendations are designed to help the industry go beyond existing legal accessibility requirements and provide a more consistent and inclusive passenger experience.
A key focus is wheelchair accessibility. Where vehicle size permits, the guidance recommends at least two wheelchair user spaces, including the statutory bay alongside additional flexible wheelchair-accessible spaces. It also recommends replacing fixed upright stanchions between wheelchair spaces and the aisle with moveable supports where practicable.
Other measures include consistent positioning and contrasting colours for contactless payment points, bell pushes on both sides of wheelchair spaces, improved signposting of priority areas and on-board information showing remaining passenger capacity. The guidance also recommends that capacity information should be available audibly when passengers board.
Alongside the agreed recommendations, the DfT has identified areas for further research and development. These include forward-facing wheelchair spaces with active restraint systems, technology to alert passengers with sight loss to an approaching bus, live capacity monitoring and the potential introduction of climate control.
The DfT says the standards should form a foundation for further improvements and recommends their adoption on all new buses and, where appropriate, refurbished vehicles.
Read the full report here.