Launching our new transport guide for Disabled people
Florence Grieve works as our Inclusive Transport Advocate, championing the transport needs of Bristol’s community of Disabled people. In this blog, she shares an update of what she has been up to in her role including developing a new transport guide for Disabled people.
Since my last blog post, we received the great news that the Disabled person’s bus pass can now be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on journeys starting in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire, thanks to the brilliant campaigning by People’s Voice. This is only in place until 31 March 2026 and so we want to see it extended and become permanent. But for now, it’s a great win for Disabled people in the region who, like everyone else, need to get the bus before 9am for work, school, medical appointments and recreational activities.
In April I helped organise a transport themed hustings before the election for the new West of England Combined Authority Mayor. It was a great opportunity for residents in the area to hear the candidate’s transport priorities and it was good to see questions from Disabled people about barriers to transport in the city being asked to the candidates. On 1 May Labour’s Helen Godwin was voted in as the new West of England Metro Mayor. We look forward to seeing how Disabled people’s needs are considered in future transport plans for the region.
Later on in the month, I enjoyed attending the Climate and Disability community climate action plan refresh events at Redcatch Community Garden and online. This was an opportunity to hear Disabled people’s feedback on the draft plan by and for Bristol’s community of Disabled people, which is going to launched later this year. I had some fruitful discussions about transport barriers with attendees at both events.
This month I am really pleased to be launching, ‘Getting around Bristol: A guide for Disabled people’. The guide was created in response to a number of requests I received for information on getting around the city for Disabled people. Some of these requests came from organisations or events wanting accessible transport information to share with visitors or attendees. Aimed at Disabled people, the guide contains information on planning your journey, trying a new way to travel, help with the cost of your journey, help on your journey, and reporting a problem on your journey.
Whilst I hope this guide will be useful, I am aware that because of the extra barriers we face, many Disabled people are already experts when it comes to understanding the transport system. This guide signposts to useful information but it can’t tackle the barriers that prevent Disabled people getting around the city easily and safely.
However, work continues on a toolkit that aims to equip residents and community groups with the knowledge they need to engage in the transport system in Bristol and make change happen to ensure the city is accessible and safe for everyone to get around. The toolkit will be launched in autumn of this year.
Want to say hello? I will be at Bristol Disability Equality Forum’s (BDEF) drop-in session on Monday 16 June, alongside Climate and Disability Programme Associate Emma Geen. The drop-in session is at the Vassall Centre, Fishponds, from 1-3pm, and you can find out more on BDEF’s website.
Read and share our new guide, ‘Getting around Bristol: A guide for Disabled people.’
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