Archives for News and Blog

Transport Scotland – Improving Parking In Scotland

The Scottish Government want your views on improving the management of parking across Scotland and making regulation more consistent. The consultation asks how the Scottish Government can improve the clarity of the laws of parking, what restrictions should be applied and the exceptions that should be granted. The Scottish Government also aimed this consultation to local authorities to ask them how they can deliver an integrated approach to managing parking, how we should tackle displacement of vehicles and support the town centre regeneration, as well as improving accessibility to all. How To Tell Us What You Think To respond to this consultation,
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Accessible Travel Hub Shortlisted for three Scottish Transport Awards

      The Scottish Disability Equality Forum (SDEF) is delighted to announce that the Accessible Travel Hub has been shortlisted in three categories for the Scottish Transport Awards 2017. Shortlisted categories: Excellence in Travel Information and Marketing Excellence in Technology and Innovation Accessibility Project of the Year Now in its 15th year, the prestigious Scottish Transport Awards 2017 brings together the transport community to recognise and celebrate industry achievements across Scotland. Supported by the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland, this year’s ceremony will be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on 15th June 2017. Roy Brannen, Chief Executive,
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Blue Badge Pilot Scheme is Extended

The disabled person’s parking badge pilot, which was launched in April 2016, has been extended to Autumn this year. People who think they might be eligible are being invited to contact their local authoritiy. The eligibility criteria have been revised and extended under the pilot to allow people who pose a risk to themselves or others in traffic to apply for a disabled person’s parking badge, provided they meet the criteria. Transport Scotland has been working closely with local authorities and disability organisations to extend the scheme to those who may be eligible under the new criteria. Extending the pilot
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Hidden Disabilities on Public Transport

A recent article by Hattie Gladwell featured in The Metro newspaper highlights the difficulties of travelling on public transport with a hidden disability.  In the article, Hattie said: “I first realised I was too scared to ask anyone to give up their seat for me on public transport when I was experiencing crippling pain in my abdomen while commuting home from work…” Commuters were unaware that Hattie was recovering from reversal surgery after having had her large intestine removed due to it almost perforating after suffering with ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease. To read Hattie’s full article, please visit: http://metro.co.uk/2017/02/17/why-are-people-with-invisible-illnesses-so-scared-to-ask-people-on-public-transport-to-give-up-their-seat-6455196/ Please
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Disabled Access Day

Disabled Access Day is returning for its third year in March 2017, and it’s set to be bigger and better than ever! The event is powered by Euan’s Guide, the disabled access review website and app; so, when you search for what’s on below, you’ll be taken to event listings on the Euan’s Guide website. This is also where you will be able to read listings and disabled access reviews of the attractions and businesses taking part on 10th-12th March. More events are being added every day, all in different locations around the UK and beyond! For full details, please
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ScotRail – Rail Awareness Open Day

ScotRail would like to take this opportunity to advise you that the next Rail Awareness Open Day (the first of 2017) is confirmed for Glasgow Central on 29 March from 1230 – 1430. Rail Awareness Open Day is an information event to promote what ScotRail do for existing and potential rail users with reduced mobility or simply those who need assistance with their journeys. It provides a learning opportunity to those with reduced mobility on the level of service available and the support they can receive form ScotRail when planning and undertaking their journey by train. ScotRail feel it is
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Call for evidence on the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009

Closing date: Wednesday 15 March 2017 About this call for evidence. The Scottish Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee has launched a call for written evidence as part of its post legislative scrutiny of the Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (Scotland) Act 2009. The Committee want to hear your thoughts on how it is working and whether the Act has achieved its objective to prevent disabled persons’ parking places being occupied by those that are not entitled to use them by making all permanent disabled street parking places enforceable. If you would like more information on the call for evidence, please
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ScotRail Online Research Panel

ScotRail is continuously looking to improve train services in Scotland and in order for this to happen, Stakeholder engagement at different levels is important to them and as such have launched an online panel giving everyone an opportunity to have their say. ScotRail want to hear your opinions and views how they can improve train services. If you are already a member of the online panel, there is no need for you to register again but you could ask others to register too. In order to take part, all you need is to sign up to The Platform, ScotRail online
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Disabled man wins UK Supreme Court case

A disabled man has won a Supreme Court case after a dispute with a woman with a buggy over wheelchair space on a bus. The case began when Mr Paulley attempted to board a FirstGroup-operated bus but was left at the bus stop after a woman with a sleeping baby in a pram refused to move from the wheelchair area. The ruling means that bus drivers will have to do more to ensure wheelchair users can get on buses, by pressuring non-wheelchair users to move from the designated wheelchair space. The court ruled that bus operator FirstGroup’s policy of requiring
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Scottish Transport Awards

There is still time to submit an entry for Accessibility Project of the Year at the Scottish Transport Awards. Entries for the 2017 Scottish Transport Awards are being accepted online at www.transporttimes.co.uk up until 17th February 20167. The awards are free to enter and the judges welcome any updates to projects submitted in previous years. About the Awards The awards are supported by the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland and Network Rail, and recognise excellence in transport and reward innovation and progress for transport initiatives which are really working in Scotland. The ceremony will take place on 15th June at the Radisson Blu
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