UK university launches research hub for accessible transport

Coventry University has announced the launch of a National Centre for Accessible Transport that aims to make future and existing modes of transport accessible to all.

A UK first in inclusive transport, the Centre is a £20 million (US$24.08 million) project funded by the charity Motability and is led by Professor Paul Herriotts, based at the university’s National Transport Design Centre (NTDC).

Working alongside a number of organisations that form a specialist consortium – including Connected Places Catapult, Designability, Policy Connect, Research Institute for Disabled Consumers and WSP – the centre’s research and agenda will be led by people with disabilities and will build upon the user-centred approach that has been developed at the NTDC.

“It is vital that we listen to what disabled people have to say about their experiences of public and private transport and use this information to change the future of travel,” said Professor Paul Herriotts.

“NCAT will use research and insights to influence key decision makers in the transport sector and local and national government to ensure that the way disabled people travel and get from one place to another is made much easier.”

Engagement

The centre aims to make transport accessible for all by engaging with disabled people to better understand their experiences and co-design solutions; amplifying the voices of disabled people in all decision making; collaborating widely with transport stakeholders; and demonstrating good practice and impact to influence policy, with innovation at the heart of its work.

“The importance of this project is that the research is being informed by disabled people who have lived experience of transport, it’s not just researchers saying I think we should do this or that,” said Kay Atkin, PhD Student, Coventry University.

“There can sometimes be little things that you just wouldn’t think about unless you had that lived experience.

“There’s nothing like this centre at the moment and it’s great to be a part of this research, it’s very exciting.”

Motability’s research shows that disabled people in the UK currently make 38 percent fewer journeys than non-disabled people – a figure that has been static over the last decade.

This impacts disabled people’s access to healthcare, employment, education and social activities.

“We know that being unable to make the journeys they want or need to, has a huge impact on disabled people’s daily lives and more needs to be done to help make transport inclusive,” said Rachael Badger, Director of Performance and Engagement at Motability.

“I look forward to seeing the positive and meaningful changes the Centre will make by working with disabled people, disabled people’s organisations, transport providers and policy makers to make transport accessible for everyone.”

Image: Coventry University