North Wales MS and Chair of the Senedd Cross-Party Group on Disability, Mark Isherwood, has today questioned the First Minister over action her Government is taking to make public transport accessible for all.
Speaking in this afternoon’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood highlighted obstacles blind and partially sighted people face when travelling by bus and raised concerns that the Bus Services (Wales) Bill will fail to address these.
After asking the First Minister how the Welsh Government is intending to make public transport more accessible for all, he added:
“Blind and partially sighted people have fewer transport options available to them, and bus travel is therefore a lifeline for them. Guide Dogs Cymru has warned that the Bus Services (Wales) Bill lacks enforceable accessibility commitments for people with vision impairment, and that accessibility is mentioned only once, without clear standards or measures.
“The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Cymru has warned that dangerous Bus Stop designs force pedestrians to cross a cycleway to get on or off a bus, with Guide Dogs Cymru also calling for the Welsh Bus Network Plan to include monitored accessibility requirements, engagement with disabled passengers, and safer infrastructure, including a suspension of shared bus stop boarders, where a passenger must cross a live cycle lane—particularly dangerous, I'm sure you'll agree, for disabled people and those with a vision impairment.
“The UK Government has paused the roll-out of bus boarders in England. Cardiff has committed to removing bus stop boarders. Will the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales be implementing a moratorium across Wales now, and, if so, when?”
Responding, the First Minister said, “the Bus Services (Wales) Bill is an important step, and there is, in fact, a duty within that Bill to continually improve accessibility” but failed to answer Mr Isherwood’s question.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood said: “Her repeated refusal to answer the questions asked is frustrating, discourteous and damaging.”
