The UK government has announced that £4.65m has been made available for bus operators through the Accessible Information Grant to improve disabled access.
The grant provides small bus and coach operators with funds to install real-time technology that will display and announce information clearly for all passengers, including those with sight and hearing impairments.
Applications for the grant have now opened [8 April 2024] for operators to bid for a share of the funds to install real-time technology.
The grant also supports regulations that were introduced last year requiring all bus operators to provide audio and visual updates on journeys, and follows £350m announced last year to improve accessibility at train stations through reallocated HS2 funding.
Minister for accessibility and ministerial disability champion at the Department for Transport, Guy Opperman, said: “Buses are the most used form of public transport in the country, and for people who are disabled, they may be the only way to meet friends and family, attend medical appointments or get to work.
“I can only imagine how daunting it must be to get on a bus and not know for certain where it’s going or when to get off, which is why we introduced new rules to ensure all buses provide this information in an accessible way.
“This £4.65m is the extra push to give operators the tools to upgrade their buses on time and ensure all passengers can board with confidence.”
Achievements and innovations in accessibility and disability solutions will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector.
