7 Delivering Accessibility

Summary

This chapter covers the measures we are undertaking to meet accessibility objectives.

We have achieved:

  • An increase in the use and provision of demand responsive transport; with more than 270,000 DRT trips in 2006.
  • An increase in the percentage of accessible buses rose from 64% in 2006/07 to 71% in 2007/08.
  • An increase in the percentage of accessible bus stops on QBC routes from 53%in 2006/07 to 79% in 2007/08.
  • An increase in cycling levels by 6% since 2005/06, after years of decline.

Through the following actions:

  • Introduced three ‘Kickstart’ bus services: a DfT funded initiative to pump-prime new services, or service improvements, which will increase bus patronage and develop bus services as an alternative to car use.
  • Extended Demand Responsive Transport services
  • Provided supported bus services to fill gaps in the network.
  • Carried out major access and upgrade of facilities at Salford Central station.
  • Extended the GM cycle network further, and substantially completed the National Cycle Network.
  • Introduced other measures to improve cycling; 24km of new cycle lanes, 230 Advanced Stop Lines, and 12 new parking facilities in town centres and at interchanges.
  • Produced a land use and public transport guidance document to assist Local Authority development control officers.
  • Continued our award winning approach to safer schools, and encouraging modal shift to walking and cycling.
  • Worked with rail operators to introduce a Sunday service on the Victoria to Huddersfield service.
  • Constructed pedestrian friendly schemes at Churchgate in Bolton, St Peters Square in Stockport, and Standish Town Centre near Wigan.

Our issues and future priorities:

  • To ensure all modes contribute to increasing accessibility of people to key services and opportunities, particularly in order to help tackle existing economic and social inequalities
  • Ensuring transport contributes to tackling the wide range of local priorities identified in Authorities' Sustainable Community Strategies and Local Area Agreements, in particular by exploiting links with other partners.
  • Removing the barrier of transport where it prevents opportunities for jobs and training, especially in the light of the global economic downturn.
  • To make the best use of door to door transport services.
  • To ensure that the transport system is accessible for all.
  • To improve our understanding of the effect of changing conditions, and our interventions, on accessibility

And to achieve these we will:

  • Continue our approach to travel training.
  • Improve the integration of booking and scheduling systems for Demand Responsive Transport.
  • Work with operators to achieve a simple multi-operator and multi-modal ticketing system.
  • Update the COPECAT pedestrian and cycle audit procedure and the GM cycle parking standards and introduce a cycle design guide.
  • Work with Network Rail and the rail operators to improve the accessibility of stations.
  • Continue to engage with partners on accessibility issues, such as Children and Young People Services and the Primary Care Trust, through strategies such as those to combat childhood obesity.
  • Complete the LTP2 cycle network and schemes at cycle investment sites.
  • Introduce web-based journey planners for walking and cycling.
  • Develop more robust and useful measures of accessibility.