POLICY STATEMENT
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Adopted by National Convention
June 1994
PREAMBLE
1.1 Public transport is vital to blind people. In many instances, public transport means the difference between independence and dependence on other people. This is particularly true for blind people because they are excluded from obtaining driver's licences. The achievement of equal access to work, education, recreation and community facilities for blind people is dependent on the availability of accessible and affordable public transport.
1.2 Blind Citizens Australia, as Australia's National Organisation representing blind people, has developed this policy in recognition of the importance of public transport to blind people. For each form of public transport, the policy sets out the practical steps to be taken to make it accessible for blind people. The policy also addresses the needs of people who are print handicapped. We call on Commonwealth, State and Local Governments, public and private sector transport providers, and blindness agencies, to work with us to implement the action required by this Policy.
1.3 Blind Citizens Australia does not speak for people with other disabilities. We do, however, seek solutions to the transport problems of all people with disabilities to the maximum degree possible.
1.4 In this Policy the term "blind people" includes both people who are totally blind and people whose degree of vision impairment limits their ability to travel safely and independently.
1.5 We particularly draw attention to the opportunities created by the Federal Disability Discrimination Act (1992), for the development of Disability Standards, Disability Action Plans and other programs to make community services accessible to people with disabilities. Many of the recommendations in this policy are amenable to being implemented through such Standards and Action Plans. Accordingly, governments and transport providers are requested to implement these recommendations in their Standards, Action Plans and other programs for people with disabilities.
1.6 Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments should conclude arrangements for the reciprocal recognition of multi-purpose taxi scheme entitlements and travel concessions for blind people.
1.7 Where public transport services are provided by private operators, in accordance with any tendering or contractual arrangements, it should be a condition of the contract that the Operator develop and implement an Action Plan to provide an accessible service for people with disabilities. The development and implementation of this Action Plan, in relation to people who are blind and print handicapped, should be done in consultation with Blind Citizens Australia. The Action Plan should include the relevant recommendations from this Policy. An Operator who fails to adopt or implement an Action Plan should be regarded as in breech of its contract with the Government and should be subject to appropriate sanctions.
TECHNOLOGIES AND PROCEDURES
2.1 Rapid changes in technologies and procedures affecting public transport are constantly occurring. Transport operators should consult with Blind Citizens Australia and its Branches and Organisational Members on the implications for the travel of blind people.
2.2 Blind Citizens Australia and transport providers should make themselves aware of developments in other countries regarding accessible transport for blind people, and co-operate in the testing and evaluation of technologies and procedures to assess their suitability for blind people in Australia.
ACCESSIBILITY AND BUILDING DESIGN STANDARDS
3.1 Buildings and surrounding open areas used in connection with the provision of transport services should comply with AS1428.1-4, or the Standards which alter or replace those Standards. AS1428.4 outlines standards for ground surface indicators for the orientation of blind people and should be adhered to wherever this Policy indicates tactile surfaces.
3.2 Buildings and surrounding open areas used in connection with the provision of transport services should be well lit. Steps should be marked with colour contrasting strips.
3.3 Signs, indicator boards and monitors should have clear lettering which is as large as practicable, have a colour contrasting background, be clearly illuminated by direct lighting and be positioned so as to enable vision impaired people to get close enough to them to read the information.
TRANSPORT STAFF
4.1 One of the fundamental cornerstones of accessible public transport for blind people is readily available and appropriately trained staff. Appropriately trained staff are people who are helpful without being patronising in their language, attitude or actions, and who understand: appropriate guiding techniques, the role of orientation and mobility aids like the long cane and the dog guide, and the use of formats other than standard print. It is particularly important that staff understand that many blind people are not totally blind, but have limited vision and require assistance for this reason. Staff should assist people with limited vision without questioning their intelligence or sincerity.
4.2 Transport providers should develop a staff training program regarding the requirements of people with disabilities. Blind Citizens Australia and its Branches and Organisational Members should be consulted on the content of this program relating to blind people and on the selection of blind people who can present this information effectively. The training program should be updated every two years. To reinforce the awareness resulting from the training program, staff publications should carry articles on transport issues affecting blind people.
4.3 All staff, not just those staff dealing directly with passengers, should attend these training programs as soon as practical after commencing work with the transport provider and should be required to attend a refresher training program after each three years service.
DELIVERY OF INFORMATION
5.1 People who are blind or print handicapped should have access to the information they require to use their transport services safely and independently. This means that the information should be available to them, to the extent that it is reasonable, when they require it and in their preferred format (Braille, audio, large print or computer disk). This information should cover: timetables, route maps, information as to fares, and details of railway stations and bus terminals at which attendants and taxis are readily available. Blindness agencies are requested to take initiatives in the acquisition and transcription of this information.
5.2 There should be specific phone-in lines for transport information covering all forms of public transport available in the location which they cover. These phone-in lines should be staffed for the entire part of the day for which the transport service is operated and should be resourced so as to provide reasonably immediate access to information.
5.3 Transport operators should ensure that services run to prepublished timetables.
TRAINS
6.1 There should be announcements at each station regarding the arrival of each train, the number of carriages and its destination. Public address (PA) system volume should be controlled so that announcements are clearly audible at all times. Care should be taken to ensure that announcers have voices well suited to PA broadcasting, and that announcements are timed so as not to be drowned out by the noise of arriving and departing trains.
6.2 Signs, indicator boards and monitors should have clear lettering which is as large as practicable, have a colour contrasting background, be clearly illuminated by direct lighting and be positioned so as to enable vision impaired people to get close enough to them to read the information.
6.3 In relation to on-train announcements, the next scheduled stop should be announced as the train leaves the station and just prior to its arrival at its next stop. The announcement should also include the direction, either left or right, from which passengers should alight.
6.4 There should be a consistent level between station platforms and each train. Tactile tiles should run parallel to the edge of each platform as per Australian Standards. This is a minimum width of 600mm, starting 600-900mm from the edge of each platform. An additional safety feature which should be included in new and modified platforms, is an upturned edge with upward slope starting 600-900mm from the platform edge.
6.5 Transport authorities should investigate the fitting of noise emitters to train doors to enable their easy location. Transport authorities should also investigate the possibility of fitting a chain linkage between carriages at an appropriate height to enable long cane users to distinguish more easily between carriage doors and the gaps between carriages.
6.6 Facilities to summon help should be available at all stations.
BUSES
7.1 Buses should have call buttons beside each seat, accessible from a seated position.
7.2 Access ramps for entry into and exit from buses should not create a tripping hazard. Steps onto and throughout buses and poles on buses should be marked with colour contrasting strips. Steps onto and throughout buses should be lit at night.
7.3 Bus destination and route number signs on buses, at bus stops, and at interchanges and terminals should have clear lettering which is as large as practicable, have a colour contrasting background, be clearly illuminated by direct lighting and be positioned so as to enable vision impaired people to get close enough to them to read the information.
7.4 Bus stops should be identified by signs which comply with subclause 7.3. Bus stops should also be marked with tactile tiles, be clear of cluttering items and be well lit at night.
7.5 Bus drivers should advise passengers of route numbers and stops when requested to do so. Bus drivers should avoid stopping where exit doors open opposite poles or other obstacles.
7.6 Operators of long distance buses should ensure that blind passengers are offered any assistance necessary during the journey.
TAXIS
8.1 Licensing authorities should ensure that all drivers have participated in and passed a training program that includes information about the rights of and varying assistance needed by blind passengers. This training should cover the following matters:
8.2 Multi-purpose taxi cards should not include a holder's birth year and other unnecessary personal information. The use of a photograph on cards is all that is necessary to ensure that cards are not misused.
AIR TRAVEL
9.1 Airlines are legally required to inform all passengers of the safety procedures on each flight. Attendants on each flight should ensure that any printed information regarding safety procedures is offered to a blind or print handicapped passenger in their preferred alternative format.
9.2 Blind passengers should, on request, be given assistance in collecting their luggage and then be assisted to their next mode of transport.
9.3 For each arriving and departing flight, there should be an announcement of the airline, flight number and gate lounge number.
9.4 Signs, indicator boards and monitors at airports should have clear lettering which is as large as practicable, have a colour contrasting background, be clearly illuminated by direct lighting and be positioned so as to enable vision impaired people to get close enough to them to read the information.
FERRIES
10.1 Wharves should be equipped with public address systems so that passengers can be informed of ferries as they approach and the wharves at which they will stop.
10.2 There should be a consistent level between the wharf and the ferry. Tactile tiles should run parallel to the edge of the wharf as per Australian Standards. This is a minimum width of 600mm starting 600-900mm from the edge of each wharf. An additional safety feature which should be included in new and modified wharves is an upturned edge with the upward slope starting 600-900mm from the wharf edge.
10.3 Access ramps for entry into and exit from ferries should not create a tripping hazard. Steps onto and throughout ferries, and poles on ferries, should be marked with colour contrasting strips. Steps onto and throughout ferries should be lit at night. Ferry destination signs should be large with clear lettering on a contrasting background and should be positioned at a height so as to be clearly visible.
TRAMS
11.1 On trams, the next scheduled stop should be announced as the tram leaves the stop and just prior to its arrival at its next stop.
11.2 Steps onto and throughout trams, and poles within trams, should be marked with colour contrasting strips. Steps onto and throughout trams should be lit at night.
11.3 Tram destination and route number signs and signs at tram stops should have clear lettering which is as large as practicable, have a colour contrasting background, be clearly illuminated by direct lighting and be positioned so as to enable vision impaired people to get close enough to them to read the information.
11.4 Tram stops should be identified by signs which comply with sub-clause 7.3. Tram stops should also be marked with tactile tiles, be clear of cluttering items and be well lit at night.
11.5 Tram drivers should advise passengers of route numbers and stops when requested.