People with disabilities struggle to move around their communities due to ‘inadequate infrastructure’, a sustainable transport charity has found.
An inquiry coordinated by Sustrans in partnership with Transport for All argues that local neighbourhoods have become ‘inaccessible’ and ‘dangerous’ for people with disabilities.
Drawing on the experiences of 1,100 disabled people across the UK, the report from the Disabled Citizens' Inquiry called for a prohibition on pavement parking to make communities more accessible.
It also called for the creation of a long-term dedicated pavement fund to improve and maintain pavements, and for better planning to ensure disabled people could access services.
Xavier Brice, Sustrans CEO, said: ‘Our report clearly demonstrates that understanding the barriers disabled people experience getting around their neighbourhoods is imperative in creating an equitable society.
‘Putting disabled people at the centre of discussions about how we plan and create spaces where we can all move around easily and safely is vital.
‘The UK Government must listen and take action to create places planned around people, not cars.’
