12 June 2014
Accessible transport as a basic right for all people
Established in 1995, SATA aims to work for the provision of accessible transport in Scotland as a basic right for all people. This includes:
- the provision of accessible vehicles, vessels and rolling stock
- an integrated system of public transport
- affordable services
- accessible information
- appropriate support services
SATA is an inclusive forum on transport issues of concern to disabled people.
- groups and individuals share information about current developments in transport
- we carry out research and produce reports
- we respond to consultations
- we identify gaps in provision
SATA campaigns for changes to transport services.
- regular meetings for members and open meetings with speakers allow discussion of policy and service issues and identify action to be taken
- transport providers and users come together
There are currently about 40 individual members of SATA and 70 member organisations. Our members include local authorities, transport operators (bus, taxi, train and ferry), local community organisations and local Disability Access Panels as well as a range of organisations dealing with specific disabilities (hearing, sight, learning etc). Our campaigning is done not by placards and angry protests, but by bringing together the various bodies and seeking cooperative solutions.
People often say "We have MACS, why do we need SATA?". MACS is a committee appointed by the government specifically to give the government advice. SATA is a membership organisation with the remit described above which enables all disabled people to have a voice on transport issues.
In April 2013 we obtained a grant under the Disabled Persons User Led Organisations (DPULO) Facilitation Fund to provide a part time development/research worker for 18 months. We were fortunate to obtain the services of Brian Masson who has been able to do things on a scale that a handful of busy volunteers could not. He has made contact with hundreds of organisations, companies and users all over the country and collected evidence of the current state of transport in Scotland as it affects disabled people.
We are currently looking at where we go from here.
One line is to develop links in regional groups so that SATA members can work better on more local issues and probably in conjunction with other local organisations.
A second line of development is that we feel there is a gap in connection with buses. Because it is a deregulated industry there are hundreds of operators. The government has set up the bus stakeholders group which provides a forum for the operators. There is Bus Users UK which represents users and Passenger Focus is now taking more interest in bus operation than it used to do, but both of these seem to deal mainly with passenger complaints. As buses are such an important part of the transport system, and with such a wide variety between the city services, rural services and inter-city services it is really important that the disabled should have their voice heard.
Nine years ago Northern Ireland produced a strategy for accessible transport but Scotland has never done this. Alan Rees, who was one of the founders of SATA 19 years ago, has announced his intention of "taking a backseat", but with his usual tireless enthusiasm he has recently been drafting an "Accessible Transport Strategy and Action Plan for Scotland, 2015-2020" which we hope to be in a position to promote shortly.
www.scottishaccessibletransport.org.uk
Scottish Charity: SC 027600
Secretary:
Mike Harrison
65 the Loan, LOANHEAD, EH20 9AG
+44 (0)131 448 0930
secretary@scottishaccessibletransport.org.uk