The problem

Accessibility problems with public transport systems can clearly restrict the employment options for people with disabilities. They also curtail the opportunities for social integration. There is insufficient data, however, on the economic and social impact of accessibility problems across EU Member States. Without the necessary comprehensive data, it is impossible for policy-makers to compare the full costs and benefits of proposed policy changes. Information is also needed to assess the transferability of existing good practices to widely varying regions and cultures.

Overview:

PTaccess will:

• Analyse the state of accessibility of public transport for people with disabilities in Europe from the point of view of people with disabilities, public transport operators, and governmental authorities
• Identify and analyse good practices and innovations, and their potential transferability across the EU
• Provide an assessment of the costs and benefits of making public transport accessible
• Deepen the understanding of the transport-related contexts of social exclusion of disabled people, and draw conclusions about the effect that accessible public transport has on employment and social inclusion prospects for disabled people.

Contribution to policy development:

• PTaccess will provide the comprehensive EU-wide database that is needed to assess existing policies and plan future policies.
• It will also undertake a specific cost-benefit analysis of certain policy options.
• It will identify links between accessible transport and employment and social inclusion opportunities for people with disabilities.
• The project will also strengthen and expand the EU-wide network of people and organisations able to contribute to policy deliberations in the future.

Project deliverables

• State of the accessibility of EU public transport systems for people with disabilities – December 2007
• Good practice of accessible public transport systems and the related costs and benefits – December 2008
• Review of literature, projects, and initiatives regarding social exclusion of people with disabilities – April 2008
• Findings on correlations between social inclusion and accessible transport – October 2008
• Electronic brochure summarising all results and recommendations – January 2009
• Final report – January 2009

Dissemination

• Project website with all results available for download – from April 2007
• Distribution of electronic newsletters to policy-makers, planners, transport operators and people with disabilities – December 2007, November 2008, January 2009
• Final project brochure– January 2009
• Communications with an extensive network of contacts of the consortium partners and subcontractors – ongoing
• Project presentations at relevant (international) conferences

Technical information

Project acronym: PTaccess
Project’s official full title: Public Transport Systems’ Accessibility for People with Disabilities in Europe
Research priority: Quality of life issues relating to handicapped/disabled people (including equal access facilities)
Specific webpage: http://www.ptaccess.eu
Proposal/contract no: 44289
Start date: February 2007
Kick off meeting: March 2007
Completion date: January 2009
European Commission scientific officer: Veronique Bernard, Veronique.Bernard@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator: Ursula Witzmann
Name: Forschungsgesellschaft Mobilität-Austrian Mobility Research FGM-AMOR gemeinnützige GmbH
Abbreviated name: FGM-AMOR
Address: Schönaugasse 8a, 8010 Graz
Country: Austria
Tel: +43 316 81 04 51 45
Fax: +43 316 81 04 51 75
Website: http://www.fgm.at/

Partners

Name: Stiftelsen Institutet för Independent Living
Abbreviated name: ILI
Country: Sweden

Name: Technische Universität Dresden, Department of Transport Sciences, Chair of Transport Ecology
Abbreviated name: TU Dresden
Country: Germany

Name: JMP consulting
Abbreviated name: JMP
Country: United Kingdom