More than 100 disabled people every week are losing their Motability vehicles after being assessed for the government’s new disability benefit the charity has confirmed. The figures appears to confirm fears that the replacement of working-age disability living allowance with the […]
Transport
Equality watchdog funds ‘David and Goliath’ bus access appeal
A disabled campaigner has won backing from the equality watchdog to continue his legal battle to protect the rights of wheelchair-users to travel on buses. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has decided to support wheelchair-user Doug Paulley’s appeal to […]
Campaign seeks solution to rail access nightmare
A wheelchair-user has launched a campaign for access improvements to her local train station, so she will no longer have to use an unlit park where she was threatened and harassed by a mugger. Julie Forshaw’s home town station of Todmorden […]
Court’s ‘extraordinary’ judgment on bus access leaves campaigners ‘appalled’
The “extraordinary” failure of three court of appeal judges to protect the rights of wheelchair-users to travel on buses has left disabled campaigners “frustrated” and “appalled”. The judgement over-turned a county court ruling that wheelchair-users should have priority in the use […]
Motability could face court action over ‘discriminatory’ new rules
The charity that oversees the Motability car scheme for disabled people is facing possible legal action over new rules that appear to discriminate against drivers with high support needs. Last week, Disability News Service (DNS) told how the rules – introduced […]
‘More commuting help needed for disabled cyclists’
Far more disabled people in England and Wales cycle to work than previously thought, but those planning transport and infrastructure improvements must do more to take their access needs into account, say campaigners. They spoke out after new research revealed that […]
Motability rule change ‘discriminates against drivers with high support needs’
New rules introduced secretly by the Motability car scheme mean only disabled people who spend more than 12 hours-a-week in education, work, volunteering or caring will be given grants to lease a vehicle they can drive from their wheelchair. The Specialised […]
Government funding means Crossrail campaign success
Every rail station on the major new Crossrail project will now be step-free, following a successful two-year campaign by disabled and older people. Transport for London (TfL) had already announced in September that Crossrail would be step-free from street-level to the […]
Crucial ‘right to ride’ bus case wins strong support
Accessible transport campaigners were outside the Royal Courts of Justice this week to show support for disabled campaigner Doug Paulley, as he fought a transport provider over the right to use wheelchair spaces on buses. The one-and-a-half-day appeal should eventually provide […]
Court of appeal set for definitive ruling on bus access priority
Campaigners will be outside the Royal Courts of Justice this week for the start of an appeal which should finally provide a definitive ruling on disabled people’s right to access wheelchair spaces on buses. The case is being brought by First […]