Government Consultation on Changing the Rules for Using Mobility Devices ....

Disability Devices

We received an email via Edith Kinghorn for Gosport Older Persons Forum.

A Government consultation on changing the rules for using mobility devices on pavements, cycle lanes/tracks and roads. If you use a mobility device you should read and take part. Consultation closes on April 22nd giving you time to have a good read, and if you are part of a club or organisation getting your members opinions too.

Championing disabled people’s travel needs

Disabled people are a part of the travelling public and continue to face unacceptable barriers across our transport system, which can prevent them from travelling in their daily lives and restrict their participation in society.

The Transport Committee published its report, Access Denied, on 20 March 2025 following its investigation of disabled people’s access to transport, and highlighted that there is still a very substantial gap between the rights and obligations that exist, and the daily experience of people who rely on pavements, buses, taxis, trains and planes to get to work, access services or for leisure.

We responded to the Transport Committee’s report, setting out several commitments the department is progressing to enable disabled people to travel independently and with confidence across our transport system.

For example, in December 2024, the Bus Services (No 2) Bill was introduced to Parliament. The bill includes a comprehensive package of measures to improve local bus network accessibility and safety infrastructure and addresses the important concerns raised by parliamentarians about floating bus stops.

The Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group (AATFG), Chaired by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, brought together industry and consumer representatives to identify the barriers disabled passengers face when flying. The group co-developed practical and achievable steps for change, published in July 2025.

This government’s bold vision for the railways will see a unified and simplified rail system with the creation of Great British Railways (GBR). The decisions we are taking now will ensure that those with additional mobility needs will be able to make greater use of our network through an improved accessibility offer.

Since launching in 2006, the Access for All programme has delivered step-free accessible routes at over 270 stations. Today, around 75% of rail journeys are made through step-free stations, up from approximately 50% in 2005.

Additionally, train and station operators are required to assist free of charge to enable disabled passengers to travel to and from every station in Great Britain that they have identified as accessible to them, including both staffed and unstaffed stations. That is why we have invested over £10 million to provide improvements to the Passenger Assist scheme by March 2027. These improvements will include the ability to book a ticket, request assistance and reserve a seat in a single transaction, as well as giving customers the ability to communicate directly with staff and receive improved notifications during times of disruption.

Gov.uk We are also developing an Integrated National Transport Strategy that sets the vision for domestic transport across England, creating a transport network that works well for people across the country so they can get on in life.

In addition to improving transport accessibility, work is taking place across government to develop and publish a UK government Plan for Disability. The Plan for Disability will set out a clear vision of what this government is aiming to achieve for disabled people in the longer term. It will also showcase work already underway across government to champion the rights of disabled people. The plan will support departments to consider how and where they can better work together to boost opportunity and ensure the views and voices of disabled people are at the heart of everything we do.

This consultation is a step towards tackling barriers faced by people who use, or wish to use, a powered mobility device.

Complete the survey here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/x-HTXUML/