Taxi-hailing company Free Now has partnered with the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) to launch Access Now, a national conference looking at the issues facing disabled public transport users.
Discussing practical solutions
The conference, due to take place on February 10, will examine the biggest mobility challenges facing those with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities, and how to create more accessible public transport infrastructure.
Access Now will bring together key figures from the transport sector as well as disability activists to discuss both accessibility issues and practical solutions when it comes to redesigning our public transport infrastructure in Ireland.
Speakers at the conference will include Rosemary Keogh, CEO of the IWA; Jack Kavanagh, non-executive director of the National Disability Authority and Common Purpose Ireland; Patrick Flanagan, the Paralympian and Ray Coyne, CEO of Dublin Bus, as well as other expert voices on both disability rights and transport planning.
Not enough accessible options
Research conducted by Free Now and the IWA has found that among the 2,000 IWA members surveyed, some 61 per cent avoid public transport altogether due to mediocre quality accessible options. Some 67 per cent said that they are concerned by the lack of understanding among other passengers and drivers in relation to their accessibility challenges.
Following an initiative launched last year with the IWA to examine ways to improve transport accessibility across the country, Free Now will, later this month, begin a new disability awareness training programme for taxi drivers.
According to Niall Carson, Free Now Ireland's general manager:
"As Ireland's leading multi-mobility app and with the largest wheelchair accessible vehicle fleet, it is extremely important for us to help provide transport options that are accessible for everyone. We are delighted to partner with Irish Wheelchair Association for this mobility conference as an opportunity to bring together key representatives and leaders from across the transport and business sector and improve our understanding of the needs of those with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities when it comes to transport accessibility."
"Our goal," he said, "is to identify some of the key barriers to accessible transport and share operational and strategic recommendations for the government and state agencies on what needs to be done to support accessibility improvements on a national scale."
Not just about taxis
At present, taxi drivers can apply for a grant of €2,500 for converting their vehicles for greater disability access. When scrapping an older model and trading up to an electric vehicle, as well as a grant of €20,000 towards the purchase of a new car, drivers can claim an additional €5,000 for a disability conversion.
This isn't, however, a catch-all solution. Commenting on the subject and on the conference, Patrick Flanagan, the Paralympian and conference panellist said:
"This over-reliance on private vehicles shouldn't be the status quo for those with disabilities - we need a more accessible public transport network that presents the disabled community with as much convenience and choice as the wider public. As a nation we need to do more to create that change - and I hope that the Access Now mobility conference will help start a national conversation, raise much needed awareness and prompt positive change."
The Access Now conference runs from 11.30pm to 1pm on Thursday, February 10 and those interested in attending online can register here.