Submission on Draft Canterbury Regional Land Transport Strategy 2012-2042

Environment Canterbury asked for public comments on a Draft Canterbury Regional Land Transport Strategy. The RNZFB's submission commented on the need for accessible pedestrian environments and public transport, the need to develop targets for improved access in consultation with the disability sector, and the need for technology to be designed for access.

Introduction

This is the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind’s submission on the Draft Canterbury Regional Land Transport Strategy 2012-2042. The RNZFB welcomes the opportunity to comment on the draft Strategy.

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind

The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (the RNZFB) is New Zealand’s main provider of sight loss services to blind and partially sighted people. The RNZFB's vision is empowering and supporting blind and partially sighted New Zealanders to ensure that they have the same opportunities and choices as everyone else.

The RNZFB advises government, business and the community on inclusive standards to ensure that blind and partially sighted people can participate and contribute equitably. The RNZFB also provides its members with the adaptive skills they need to lead independent lives. One of the core services provided is training in orientation and mobility skills so that members can travel independently.

The RNZFB has around 1,500 blind and partially sighted members living in the Canterbury region, and more than 11,500 members nationwide, including many who are deafblind. The recommendations made in this submission will also benefit members of the community who have vision loss but do not meet the Foundation's eligibility criteria. Recent research[1] indicates that in 2009, 125,000 New Zealanders over the age of 40 had sight loss which prevented them from being eligible for a driver's license.

Accessible transport

Blind and partially sighted people are 'transport disadvantaged' as they cannot drive. For people with sight loss, providing equitable access to transport options requires integrated accessible design of public transport and pedestrian environments, awareness among transport staff and the wider community of the needs of blind and partially sighted travellers, and information about transport options in formats that blind and partially sighted people can access, which may include accessible websites, emails or text messages, audio, braille or large print.

In practice, blind and partially sighted people face barriers in using public transport in New Zealand. The Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand publication "Is this the right bus?"[2] outlines some of these barriers and the solutions needed.

Improving accessibility for people with vision loss will benefit the whole community. The Human Rights Commission's Accessible Journey[3] inquiry found that:

"all the changes that make public land transport more accessible for disabled people also improve access for non-disabled people, and therefore contribute directly to increased use of public transport."

The legal mandate for improving accessibility was strengthened by New Zealand's recent ratification of the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.[4]

Comments on draft Strategy

Issues, challenges and vision

Developing an accessible transport system improves outcomes for both 'transport disadvantaged' people and the wider community. Given these benefits, it is appropriate that accessibility is identified as a key issue or challenge that the Strategy hopes to address, and one of the main objectives.

As accessibility has such broad relevance, the RNZFB suggests adding 'accessible' to the overall vision statement. Designing a transport system that is "affordable, integrated, safe, resilient and sustainable" is a great aspiration, but may not necessarily produce a system designed for all Cantabrians to use equitably and with the same ease. Adding "accessible" to the vision statement would clarify the intent to design a system that is accessible for all.

Accessible pedestrian environments

One aspect of designing a more accessible transport system for blind and partially sighted people is providing safe pedestrian environments that are designed for use by people with sight loss. This includes ensuring that footpaths have a wide continuous accessible path of travel without obstacles, and that tactile ground surface indicators are installed to provide feedback for a pedestrian travelling with a white cane or guide dog.

Creating developments where the pedestrian is prioritised will encourage less vehicle movements, in line with the overall direction of the draft Strategy. Currently pedestrians have limited access to facilities and services in many cases, as entrances and roads surrounding them have been designed for those arriving by motorised vehicles. People who are blind, partially sighted or deafblind have difficulty travelling to and accessing these facilities independently where there is no pedestrian priority or safe accessible routes.

Designing safe, usable footpaths will provide a more positive experience of walking for blind and partially sighted people, promoting active transport choices and increasing independent access to the community, services and facilities.

In the grid reference showing how outcomes relate to objectives, two of the outcomes relating to increasing active transport participation are currently shown as having a minor or no relationship with the Accessibility outcome. The RNZFB suggests that transport planning should include accessible pedestrian environments, and in this way Accessibility is related to the objectives "Improved health from increase in time spent travelling by active means." and "Increased proportion of the population travelling by active means."

Accessible public transport

The RNZFB supports the overall direction to increase funding and support for public transport. Blind and partially sighted people are not able to drive cars, so an accessible public transport system provides greater transport choice.

Many blind and partially sighted people can and do use public transport, but they often face barriers in accessing these services on an equitable basis with other residents. Specific accessibility requirements for blind and partially sighted travellers include:

• audible information about stops.
• timetable information in accessible formats.
• stations/stops designed to be accessible to blind and partially sighted pedestrians.
• clear audible and visual ways of identifying vehicles.
• technology including ticket machines that is designed to be accessible to blind and partially sighted people.
• staff awareness of how to accommodate blind, partially sighted and deafblind people, reinforced through mandatory training.
• affordable fares.
• adequate and equitable access to the Total Mobility scheme.

The draft Strategy proposes to improve accessibility for transport disadvantaged people through "tailored and targeted" public transport. The RNZFB notes that this should not solely mean separate disability-specific transport systems, but should imply a public transport system that is designed to meet the needs of as many Cantabrians as possible, specifically including blind and partially sighted people.

Targets

The measurable targets in the draft Strategy do not include any specific measures on accessibility or improving the transport experience of disabled people. The draft Strategy suggests that 'performance indicators' will be used to track progress towards the range of outcomes. The RNZFB suggests that performance indicators related to accessibility are developed in consultation with the disability sector.

Role of technology

The draft Strategy outlines several ways in which technology can contribute to the Strategy's outcomes. The RNZFB notes that technology also has a role in making the public transport system more accessible, particularly for people with sight loss.

Access to timetables through websites that are designed to meet accessibility standards, real-time audio announcements and text messaging services all help to provide information that allows blind and partially sighted people to plan trips and make choices. Historically, much of this information has only been available in visual forms, such as in print. Technology has the potential to change this, and to enable greater uptake of public transport by blind and partially sighted people.

Further information

The RNZFB would welcome opportunities to provide more information if required. Please direct any questions to:

Moira Clunie
Insights, Policy & Advocacy Manager
Telephone: +64 9 355 6938
Email: mclunie@rnzfb.org.nz

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind
Private Bag 99941
Newmarket
Auckland