THE DISABLED AND ELDERLY: A PASSENGER TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE

The authors define "the disabled", give an estimate of the number of disabled persons, and discuss their significance within the passenger transport market. The difficulties experienced by disabled people in using existing bus and local train services are explained. Financial assistance (user side subsidies and fare concessions) and services in Britain are described, and details are given of practices in the USA, Canada and Sweden. Coordinated actions needed to reduce the difficulties currently experienced by disabled and elderly persons are suggested. The actions involve passenger transport and taxi operators, statutory authorities responsible for highways, health, social services and education, and voluntary organisations. (TRRL)