Compassionate Commuting

A recent study published by disability equality charity Scope revealed that one in four people who experience disabilities avoid using public transport due to negative attitudes from other people. Forty percent of respondents highlighted issues with rail travel specifically.

While there are on-going improvements to physical barriers to accessibility - TfL's step-free access programme currently shows 74 of the 270 stations have wheelchair accessible access to platforms (but not necessarily trains) - this report suggests there is still work to be done to raise disability awareness and encourage inclusive attitudes.

It's often too easy to think of accessibility in terms of physical access, and mobility and visual impairments are among the most visible concerns. However, travelling on public transport can also present barriers for people who experience cognitive disabilities such as autism or dementia, and people who experience mental illness.

For example, someone with autism may find social interactions difficult, have difficulty adapting to change and predicting what might happen next, and find certain sensory stimulus overwhelming. Travelling on the tube with its bustling, crowded stations, last minute timetable changes, and screeching tannoy announcements could therefore present a minefield of challenges.

It's important to remember that everyone's experience of disability is different and that rather than designing for specific disabilities, we should instead design inclusive environments for everyone to begin with. Only by creating safe spaces for people of all abilities can we encourage positive attitudes.

Technology already exists that logs our entry at ticket barriers, carries us from street to platform, announces the arrival (or not) of trains, and gives us wifi access even while underground. It keeps us moving. But how can technology be used not only to enhance communication between commuters and staff, but each other?

How can we design travel experiences that engage and inform, while keeping us curious about each other? Experiences that are not only efficient but entertaining, even enlightening. Above all, how can technology on public transport bring people together? How can we foster a sense of collective responsibility and community?

TfL welcome message for the future Royal baby