Monday 29th October 2007
Speaking at Disability Capital – the UK's largest conference for Deaf and disabled people in London – the Mayor outlined that he has taken this step as part of his commitment to provide equal access to public transport for all Londoners.
The Dial-A-Ride service is used by many people to access IFI accredited facilities as it is a door-to-door transport service provided by Transport for London for older and disabled people who cannot use buses, trains and the Tube. Following the Mayor’s announcement, services will be free from 1 January 2008. Carers travelling with disabled and other people on dial a ride will also travel free. The cost to Transport for London of delivering free Dial-a-Ride fares is £700,000.
This is the first in a series of planned steps to improve door to door services for disabled and older Londoners.
The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: ‘Free Dial-a-Ride services will benefit 50,000 older and disabled Londoners, who make 1.2 million trips each year on this vital door-to-door service to go about their every day lives.
'Many of us perhaps take for granted the ability to use buses, trams and the Tube, but for many Londoners that is not an option. By abolishing fares on Transport for London’s Dial-a-Ride services, we are improving access to a vital lifeline for some of London’s most vulnerable people, many of whom are on lower incomes.
‘Every year we are investing more in door-to-door transport but we recognise that there is more to do. This is just the first step in our absolute commitment to revamp current door-to-door services in the capital leading to a comprehensive and flexible city-wide service which better meets the needs of passengers.’
Transport for London also offers a travel assistance scheme which aims to give disabled Londoners the information and confidence they need to make more use of public transport. Through this scheme, TfL offered advice on planning a journey using an accessible route and can provide someone to accompany an individual for the first few times.
