Editing Accessibility (section)

===Accessibility planning for transportation in the United Kingdom===
[[File:Harrington railway station, Cumbria (geograph 3564245).jpg|thumb|[[Harrington Hump]], [[Harrington station]]]]
In the [[United Kingdom]], local transport authorities are responsible for checking that all people who live within their area can access essential opportunities and services, and where gaps in provision are identified the local authorities are responsible for organizing changes to make new connections. These requirements are defined in the UK Community Planning Acts legislation<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theknowledgeexchangeblog.com/2017/01/25/community-planning-in-the-devolved-uk/|title=Community planning in the devolved UK|date=2017-01-25|work=The Knowledge Exchange Blog|access-date=2018-07-02|language=en-US}}</ref> and more detailed guidance has been issued by the [[Department for Transport]] for each [[Local authority#England|local authority]]. This includes the requirement to produce an Accessibility Plan under Community Planning legislation and to incorporate this within their [[Local Transport Plan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/parkingandtravel/transportplansandprojects/localtransportplan|title=Local Transport Plan {{!}} PLYMOUTH.GOV.UK|website=plymouth.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702175727/https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/parkingandtravel/transportplansandprojects/localtransportplan|archive-date=2018-07-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> An Accessibility Plan sets out how each local authority plans to improve access to employment, learning, health care, food shops and other services of local importance, particularly for disadvantaged groups and areas. Accessibility targets are defined in the accessibility plans, these are often the distance or time to access services by different modes of transport including walking, cycling and public transport.

Accessibility Planning was introduced as a result of the report "Making the Connections: Final Report on Transport and Social Exclusion".<ref>Office of the Deputy Prime Minister&nbsp;– Social Exclusion Unit: "[http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/social_exclusion_task_force/assets/publications_1997_to_2006/making_transport_2003.pdf Making the Connections: Final Report on Transport and Social Exclusion] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100907154242/http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/cabinetoffice/social_exclusion_task_force/assets/publications_1997_to_2006/making_transport_2003.pdf |date=2010-09-07 }}". February 2003.</ref> This report was the result of research carried out by the [[Social exclusion|Social Exclusion]] Unit. The United Kingdom also has a "code of practice" for making train and stations accessible: "Accessible Train and Station Design for Disabled People: A Code of Practice".<ref>Department of Transport & Transport Scotland: "[http://www.dft.gov.uk/transportforyou/access/rail/railstations/accessiblestationdesigns/cop.pdf Accessible Train and Station Design for Disabled People: A Code of Practice]". July 2008.</ref> This code of practice was first published in 2002 with the objective of compliance to Section 71B of the Railways Act 1993,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Railways Act 1993 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1993/43/section/71B |website=legislation.gov.uk |language=en-GB |others=Expert Participation |access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> and revised after a public consultation period in 2008.

Some transport companies have since improved the accessibility of their services, such as incorporating [[low-floor bus]]es into their stock as standard.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} In August 2021, [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]] announced the streamlining of their accessibility services, allowing passengers requiring assistance to inform the company with as little as 10 minutes' notice at all 189 stations on its network, replacing an older scheme wherein assisted journeys had to be booked six hours to a day in advance. The system will utilise clear signage at stations and [[QR code]]s, allowing customers to send details of the assistance they require and their planned journey to staff remotely.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/aug/05/south-western-railway-launches-10-minutes-notice-assistance-scheme |title=South Western Railway launches 10 minutes' notice assistance scheme |last=Topham |first=Gwyn |date=5 August 2021 |website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=5 August 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210805114212/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/aug/05/south-western-railway-launches-10-minutes-notice-assistance-scheme |archive-date=5 August 2021 }}</ref>

Making public services fully accessible to the public has led to some technological innovations. [[Public announcement]] systems using [[audio induction loop]] technology can broadcast announcements directly into the hearing aid of anyone with a hearing impairment, making them useful in such public places as auditoriums and train stations.<!-- This is a section about the UK; what's a sentence on Australia doing here? - Australia's government has supported the creation of the [[National Public Toilet Map]], to enable users to locate public toilet facilities throughout the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://toiletmap.gov.au/|title=National Public Toilet Map|website=toiletmap.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> [[GPS]] is also included as a feature. The service assists people with continence issues, which is estimated to be up to 18% of the population, including the elderly and families with young children. -->