LOCAL BUS STRATEGY STRATEGAETH BWS LLEOL

ACTION:
• To work towards all bus services being operated by low floor accessible buses by
2010, subject to additional funding and appropriate mechanisms being found.
• In the intervening period whilst the buses are being introduced, operators will be
encouraged to designate specific routes to be operated by low floor accessible
buses.
• The average age of buses serving Caerphilly county borough should not exceed 8
years.
10.2 Improving Physical Access to Buses
Making it as easy as possible to board buses will allow people maximum mobility.
Accessibility in this context is important as:
• People are living longer and this will lead to increasing numbers of older people
who need mobility, but are unwilling or unable to drive. The introduction of free
travel for the over 60s has increased demand for travel.
• Caerphilly county borough has a higher level of residents with limiting long term
illnesses. The Council has a statutory duty under the Disability Discrimination
Act to help those with mobility problems to get around and to provide them with
equal access to services.
• Parents with young children in pushchairs or buggies often face barriers to bus
travel. Carefully designed infrastructure and accessible buses can transform their
mobility and freedom.
Achieving accessibility therefore requires Caerphilly county borough to improve
infrastructure to provide level boarding and alighting platforms, kerbs to allow buses to
stop at the optimum point for boarding and alighting and well designed bus shelter and
bus stop infrastructure. Bus drivers need adequate training in stopping close to the kerb
and in awareness of passenger needs. The enforcement of parking and waiting
restrictions is an important part of the solution, as the benefits of improved infrastructure
and the introduction of low floor accessible buses can be negated if the bus cannot have
unrestricted access to the bus stop.
Caerphilly county borough believes that by undertaking these improvements to bus
services, many of the barriers to bus travel are removed and they become accessible to
most people. This achieves a socially inclusive solution and a more efficient use of
resources. There will always be some cases however, where specialist transport is
required for people with certain disabilities which prevent them form using conventional
bus services.
ACTION:
• Encourage and facilitate full accessibility to the bus network through the provision
of well designed accessible infrastructure, driver training and the enforcement of
parking and waiting restrictions.
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