Transport is at a pivotal juncture. As cities worldwide embrace a technology-driven 'mobility revolution', a clear choice confronts us: design for inclusion from the outset or risk deepening inequality and missing a transformative economic opportunity. Smarter, greener transport systems must be built on accessibility as a foundation, not an afterthought.
In the UK, the National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) highlights that disabled people make 38% fewer journeys than their non-disabled peers, a statistic that has remained virtually unchanged over the past decade. In real terms, this 'transport accessibility gap' translates to an average of 11 trips per week for disabled individuals, compared to 20 for others. That is nine missed opportunities every week — to work, to study, or to enjoy leisure and discovery.
Progress Across Policy, Advocacy and Awareness
Since I last addressed this issue in the Transport Times five years ago, there have been promising signs of progress across policy, activism and public awareness:
- Policy leadership: The Motability Foundation has driven pioneering work on accessible electric vehicles (EVs), including the internationally recognised PAS 1899 charging standard.
- Grassroots advocacy: Organisations like Transport for All (TfA) have campaigned successfully to preserve vital accessibility infrastructure, such as ticket offices.
- Cultural visibility: Channel 4's documentary Fight to Fly has raised public awareness of the unacceptable treatment faced by disabled passengers in air travel.
A Troubling Backlash Against Disability Support
However, alongside this momentum, worrying trends have emerged. Recent public discourse around disability benefits has increasingly questioned who is "disabled enough" to deserve support, undermining critical systems like the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the Motability Scheme. This rhetoric risks not only marginalising individuals but also weakening vital infrastructure that enables mobility.
The Economic and Commercial Case for Accessibility
The economic case for accessible transport is overwhelming. Oxford Economics found that the Motability Scheme contributed £4.3 billion to the UK economy in 2022/23 and supported 34,000 jobs. A recent Financial Times feature similarly highlighted how accessible public transport can dramatically improve employment outcomes for disabled jobseekers.
Moreover, the commercial opportunity is vast. With 16 million disabled individuals in the UK — one in four of the population — the potential market is immense. Scope's research estimates the 'Purple Pound' at £274 billion annually.
It is increasingly clear: prioritising transport accessibility is not only the right thing to do, it is a commercial, economic and societal imperative.
Open Road Access: Driving Practical Solutions
Motivated by the life-changing impact of a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) on my own family, I founded Open Road Access (ORA). Our mission is to support 15 million accessible trips a year by 2030 and to become the leading platform for transport accessibility by 2040. Our vision is a tomorrow where everyone can move freely and independently, and we are building towards it today, starting with WAV rentals.
In our first 12 months testing the service, ORA has supported more than 1,000 customers and gathered valuable insights. One customer, newly disabled, shared that access to an affordable WAV rental enabled "a magical weekend trip that taught us disability needn't mean isolation, and gave us hope about the future of inclusivity". These small moments illustrate the profound impact accessible transport can have on people's lives.
Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Greater Inclusion
Looking ahead, ORA is also keeping an eye on emerging technologies in the automotive sector, to ensure that disabled people can benefit from a changing transport landscape, and that our service remains fit-for-purpose. Customer data indicates most WAV trips are less than 40 miles, ideal candidates for EV adoption. But due to cost and infrastructure barriers, EV adoption among disabled people continues to lag, and engineering challenges persist in adapting EVs for wheelchair access. I urge innovators in the UK and beyond to collaborate on solutions, ensuring the transition to greener transport expands—not restricts—mobility options.
Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) represent another promising frontier. For many disabled individuals who do not drive, AVs could offer unprecedented independence. Yet, without inclusive design from inception, we risk developing yet another system requiring retrofitting.
The opportunity extends beyond physical vehicles. Advances in digital technology, including artificial intelligence, offer new ways to match customers with tailored transport solutions – but only if accessibility is a cornerstone of build. Indigo's Access Culture survey revealed that disabled people attending arts events are nine times more likely to struggle with online booking. ORA is exploring how data-driven platforms can create smarter, responsive services that meet the diverse needs of our community.
A Call to Action for an Inclusive Future
The transport sector stands on the cusp of transformational change. I urge businesses to embed accessibility into product and service design, investors to champion inclusive innovation, and policymakers to accelerate reforms that enable equitable mobility. Together, we can build a future where independent mobility is not a privilege, but a universal right.
