Helios

Here you will find the full text of a document I co-authored as a result of participation in the EU's Helios II programme from 1994 to 1996.

HELIOS TECHNICAL REPORT

Report of Thematic Group 8

The Design and Operation of Accessible Public Transport Systems

A report by compiled by members of Thematic Group 8 (Policies and Technical Requirements for the Adaptation of Transport) of the Helios sector on Social Integration: Elimination Of Technical And Socio-Psychological Barriers.

Written by Peter Barker, Pip Hesketh and Steve Smythe. November 1996.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CHAPTER ONE - GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

1.1 Methodology

1.2 Three Principles

1.3 Accessible Transport Chains

1.4 Document Structure

CHAPTER TWO - TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS OF ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT SYSTEMS

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Understanding Mobility - The User Group

2.3 The Design Process

2.4 General Design Principles

2.5 Pedestrian Access

2.6 Information Systems

2.7 Termini, Interchanges and Modes Of Transport

2.8 Special Circumstances of Geography/Topology and Weather

2.9 Gaps in Provision

2.10 Innovations

CHAPTER THREE - ORGANISATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

3.1 Transport Planning and Integration

3.2 Information Systems

3.3 Language and Ethnicity

3.4 Access to the Service

3.5 Operational Co-ordination

3.6 Staff Training

3.7 Consumer Involvement

3.8 Provision of Customer Assistants and Escorts

CHAPTER FOUR - THE POLITICAL DIMENSION

4.1 Policy Principles

4.2 Legislation

4.3 Civil Rights

4.4 Population Trends

4.5 Cost Benefit Analysis

4.6 Research Gaps

CHAPTER FIVE - RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE EU

APPENDICES

A Background Information Relating to Mobility Restrictions

B Bibliography

C Contact Information

D Questionnaire

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following people were members of Thematic Group 8 (Policies and Technical Requirements for the Adaptation of Transport) of the Helios Social Integration Sector and contributed to the report:

 Joaquim Jose Brito Antunes (P), Peter Barker (UK), Manio Chadzopoulous (GR), Doreen Chaney (UK), Rachel Dalgleish (UK), Martin Diskin (IRL), Antoine Duflot (F), Michael Eggert (D), Josefa Ferrando (E), Pip Hesketh (UK), Andy Holt (UK), Michel Jeannenot (F), Lily Jensen (DK), Sofia Karkantzou (GR), Bjarne Kennig (DK), Argyro Leventi (GR), Gerry Maguire (UK), Elias Markos (GR), Dionisios Mavrokefalos (GR), Wyn O'Grady (UK), Ron Owttrim (UK), David Patterson (UK), Knut Prytz (N), Karl Seeber (IRL), Shital Shah (UK), Steve Smythe (contact person - UK), Bas Treffers (NL), Thanasis Viglas (GR)

Through the participation of the above members, the following organisations were represented:

Ayuntamiento de Barcelona

Bundesverband Selbsthilfe Koerperbehinderter e.V. (Berlin, Germany)

Camara Municipal de Lisboa (Lisbon, Portugal)

Dial-a-Ride and Taxicard Users (DaRT) (London, UK)

Disability Action (Belfast, UK)

Dutch Council of the Disabled (Netherlands)

GIHP Rhone-Alpes (Lyon, France)

Hjoelpemiddelinstituttet (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Inter-Departmental Transport Accessibility Committee (Dublin, Ireland)

Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works (Athens, Greece)

Municipality Of Piraeus (Athens, Greece)

Panhellenic Association of Paraplegics (Athens, Greece)

Royal National Institute for The Blind (RNIB) (London, UK)

Wandsworth Access Association (London, UK)

Wandsworth Community Transport (London, UK)

Valuable assistance was also received from:

Mary Kyriazopoulou, Danae Penn, Patricia Winrow (EC), Members of Helios Thematic Group 2 'Policies and Technical Requirements for the Accessibility of the Built Environment'.