This card is available for travel by blind persons. It should be in the style shown on the image featured below, with an ‘eye’ symbol next to the C.           Card Holders may travel Free of Charge in Standard Class accommodation (no ticket to be issued) on the following services at any time:- All train services between stations within Scotland and as far as Carlisle and Berwick upon Tweed, by all operators. Companions Generally, companions are NOT included in this scheme. However, where a Local Scheme is in place the Local Authority who have issued the card is identified on
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  The latest edition of the Disability Equality Scotland magazine Open Door is themed on ‘Accessible Travel’. The magazine also brings you news and information from Disability Equality Scotland, Access Panels, and Disabled People’s Organisations across Scotland. In this transport themed issue, you will find: Inform: Patron’s Welcome – Introduction by Monica Lennon MSP, Disabled People Shaping the Public Transport Network – Update from Emma Scott, Safe Ferries for All – Update from Fiach O’Broin-Molloy Support: Articles from organisations that are striving to make transport more accessible, inclusive and safer for disabled people Accessible Travel Hub: Details of the website that is
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Scottish Ministers are looking to make up to three appointments to the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS), an independent advisory committee to Scottish Ministers on making transport more accessible for disabled people. If you are interested in or have a background in Transport Accessibility or you are aware and understand the issues that affect disabled people when using public transport; can build and maintain relationships; are able to reflect the views of disabled people, especially people with hidden disabilities; and could challenge transport providers, local authorities and the Government to do more or to do things differently, then this may
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On Thursday 28 April 2022, we hosted a webinar in partnership with Transport Scotland about the Scottish Government’s strategy to reduce car kilometres, and the needs of disabled people in supporting a national reduction in car travel. In January 2022, Transport Scotland published a draft route map to achieve a 20% reduction in car kilometres by 2030. The route map features four key behaviours that Transport Scotland want everyone in Scotland to consider when planning journeys: make use of online options to reduce your need to travel; choose local destinations to reduce the distance you travel; switch to walking, wheeling,
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A group of researchers from the University of Bath are conducting focus groups to understand Scottish people’s experiences of travel, and to gather feedback on some materials they have designed about travelling around Scotland. Focus groups will be running online and will last for approximately one hour. The groups will contain between 4-7 participants and will be scheduled at a time that is suitable for you and other participants. You will be compensated £20 for your time. To find out more information, and to check if you’re eligible to participate, please go to: http://bit.ly/travelfocusgroup
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Watch our latest webinar discussion about Disability Training for Public Transport Staff. This was a chance for disabled people to discuss their own experiences of public transport and the support they have received from staff on those journeys, and provided suggestions for how the system could be improved. During this event we heard from: Claire Clark, Senior Executive Officer at the Office of Rail and Road Billy Robb, Customer Services Director at NorthLink Ferries Cheryl Campbell, Airport Services Manager and Inverness airport HIAL (Highlands and Islands Airports) Robert Burns, Stakeholder Engagement Officer (Scotland) at FirstBus A full summary report will
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Duku Design and Urban Foresight are currently working on 2 projects to improve the accessibility of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for disabled people. The first of these projects, funded by Scottish Enterprise and Transport Scotland, looks to develop tools that will make charging an electric vehicle easier and quicker at existing charge point infrastructure. The second project, funded by Innovate UK, looks to develop an accessible EV charger. As part of these projects, Duku Design and Urban Foresight are running a trial to test the prototype: Date: 16 March 2022 (all day) and 17 March 2022 (morning only) Location:
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  Jacobs and the University of Edinburgh are conducting research into zebra crossings on behalf of Transport Scotland and the Scottish Roads Research Board. Zebra crossings help pedestrians cross from one side of the road to the other. They have white stripes painted onto the road in the crossing area, with flashing amber lights (known as belisha beacons) at both sides of the road on black and white striped poles. Pavement kerbs are dropped at both ends of the crossing, usually with tiles with raised bumps (known as tactile paving) where the pavement meets the road. Zebra crossings give priority
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The rapid spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant has resulted in a large number of absences at ScotRail, with staff testing positive, awaiting results, or having to self-isolate. This means that several services have been changed or even cancelled, in recent weeks. The timetable, which mainly impacts upon services in the central belt, will be in place from Tuesday, January 4 until January 28, and will operate between Monday and Friday. David Simpson, ScotRail Operations Director, said:  “Like most businesses, ScotRail is not immune to the impact of coronavirus. We’ve been working flat out to run a safe and reliable railway in really difficult and
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Low Emission Zones are being introduced in Scotland’s four largest cities: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee to improve air quality and people’s health. The Low Emission Zones will restrict vehicles that do not meet or exceed the euro emission standards. As part of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 a number of national exemptions have been granted, this includes an exemption for Blue Badge holders whose vehicles are non-compliant. This is to support the accessibility needs of Blue Badge holders even if their vehicle does not meet the Low Emission Zone standards. Transport Scotland is hosting an online consultation event to
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