Understanding and Identifying Barriers to Transport

ncat’s first research project, which worked with disabled people to understand their lived experiences, needs and expectations, when using all forms of transport across the UK.

Reports and details below.

Understanding and Identifying Barriers to Transport

Highlights Report


We’ve produced our Highlights Report in multiple formats to suit your needs. Browse the options below and access the version that works best for you.

Short form Word format

DOWNLOAD HIGHLIGHTS REPORT

Large print Word format

DOWNLOAD LARGE PRINT REPORT

Accessible PDF format

VIEW DESIGNED PDF

EasyRead PDF format

VIEW EASYREAD PDF

BSL video

WATCH BSL VIDEO

What did we do?

We developed a survey with the aim to understand and identify the barriers that disabled people face while travelling.

We also asked a smaller group of disabled people to complete travel diaries where they told us about the barriers and enablers they experienced when travelling.

How did we do it and who did we do it with?

Our nine ‘Experts by Experience’, who are members of our Community of Accessible Transport (CAT) panel helped to design and create the research.
The survey was tested first for accessibility, and participants could respond online, by phone, or through a Video Relay Service for British Sign Language users.
1,195 people completed the survey, including people from the CAT Panel. They also provided 1,274 comments.

The survey included responses from disabled people living in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales and covered all modes of transport.

14 disabled people produced travel diaries. Over two weeks, they completed 62 diary entries. They wrote about their normal day-to-day journey experiences and shared photos.

What did we find out?

Using our survey data we designed and produced the Transport Barriers Database.
This is an open-source dashboard designed to inform industry professionals and policymakers. This searchable tool provides crucial evidence of the transport challenges disabled people face across the UK.

Users can search by categories such as access needs, impairment, transport modes, region, gender, and age. The database also includes 1,274 searchable comments from participants about their experiences.

We also produced a full report, and a highlights version which has been translated into BSL  and Easy Read versions.
An accessible pdf version, along with a short form word document and a large print word document are also available below.

Key Findings From The Report Includes:

  • Disabled people do not think transport is accessible. Most do not think this will change in the next 10 years
  • Disabled people experience barriers when travelling. 92% face barrier(s) on at least one mode of transport
  • Inaccessible transport makes disabled people travel less, and it makes journeys take longer
  • Disabled people face many barriers when they travel. These include badly designed and cluttered streets, unreliable step-free access, and poor staff assistance.

What next?

Transport industry professionals and policy makers should use the data contained with the Transport Research Database to inform their future projects.

Our recommendations are that they should:

Prioritise improving transport services and regulations.

Ensure disabled people are decision-makers.

Insight Report

We’ve produced a Key Insights Report to be a more visual representation of the key findings in the report, and this is available as an Accessible PDF.

Designed Accessible PDF format

VIEW DESIGNED ACCESSIBLE PDF

Full Report

Our Full Report here contains all the report findings, including appendices and references. Browse the options and access the version that works best for you.

Long form Word format

DOWNLOAD FULL WORD REPORT

Accessible PDF format

VIEW ACCESSIBLE DESIGN FULL PDF