Mammas- can you help shape the future of step-free access?

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Kensington Mums
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step-free access

TfL asks customers to help shape the future of step-free access

The consultation, which runs until 10 February 2022, has been designed to help TfL identify which aspects of making London Underground stations more accessible it should prioritise, to bring the most far-reaching and beneficial impacts and help more Londoners use the public transport network independently.

As part of the consultation, respondents will be asked whether they would prefer future funding to focus on upgrading a single, complex central London station, or be divided between smaller or medium sized stations located outside central London.

They will also be asked whether they would prefer for future funding to be used to improve clusters of accessible stations to create a close group of accessible stations or upgrade areas with limited accessibility, or a combination of both.

TfL welcomes the views of everyone across London who would benefit from a more accessible public transport network, including older people, disabled people, parents, carers, and people with long or short term medical conditions, as well as those travelling with bulky luggage or equipment for work. Borough councils will also be asked for their feedback during the consultation process.

Once the consultation closes, TfL will analyse all responses received and publish findings in the spring of 2022. Findings from this consultation will be analysed alongside TfL’s own passenger data, transport modelling and engineering feasibility to help deliver a better and fairer future London Underground step-free station programme, should vital additional funding be made available.

With funding likely to be limited going forward it is essential that TfL prioritises effectively, and the consultation results will help enable this.

  • TfL is encouraging parents and carers to help shape the future step-free access priorities and improvements on the London Underground network before the public consultation closes on 10 February.
  • With four weeks left to have your say, TfL wants all Londoners to have their views represented, including those who rely on lifts to get around with their buggy.
  • The consultation, the first of its kind in 15 years, has had more than 3,000 responses since it launched on 2 November 2021. It is designed to help TfL identify which aspects of making Tube stations more accessible it should prioritise to bring the most far-reaching and beneficial impacts and help more Londoners use the public transport network independently, should vital additional funding be made available
  • Meaningful sustained investment is urgently needed to enable TfL to continue improving step-free access. More than half (51 per cent) of TfL’s rail network and 95 per cent of bus stops are now step-free

  • Sudbury Hill Underground station on the Piccadilly line was the latest Tube station to become step-free in December 2021, making it the 90th step free station on the Tube network. Grade-II listed Sudbury Hill station now has two new lifts and improved signage giving customers step-free access from the street to the station platforms to help customers with reduced mobility to access the station and the wider transport network. More information is available here

 

  • In this video, Alice who uses a double buggy for her twins, shares her experience travelling on public transport and what she would like to see in the future.

The TfL Go app is regularly updated to show not only fully step-free stations but also where accessible journeys can be made due to particular platforms within stations being step-free for entry and exit as well as to interchange between lines. It was recently updated to show journeys with the ‘least walking’. Londoners can share their views using the online consultation platform https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/tube-step-free-access or participate at in-person sessions held across London.

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