VCOSS says State Government has failed its own accessibility standards for trams

The State Government has failed to meet its own standards when it comes to accessible trams and stops, disability groups say. The news comes as wheelchair users reveal just how tough it is to catch public transport in Melbourne.

Martin Leckey says there needs to be more investment in accessible trams and tram stops. Picture: Ellen Smith

Less than a quarter of Melbourne’s tram stops meet legal accessibility requirements introduced almost two decades ago, disability advocacy groups say.

Under the Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002, at least 90 per cent of all vehicles and stops were required to be accessible by December 2017.

Currently less than 25 per cent of stops comply.

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Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) chief executive Emma King said the state was failing to meet its own accessibility targets.

“The cost to our community is huge,” she said.

“Public transport barriers are keeping people out of work, stopping their education and cutting them off from the kinds of opportunities the rest of us take for granted.”

A Disability Resource Centre report highlighted the majority of Melbourne’s tram stops were not accessible — without raised platforms to enable wheelchair users to enter and exit trams on their own — even when the routes where serviced by low-floor trams.

Even fully accessible tram stops aren’t always serviced by low-floor trams. Many trams, like this one, require boarders to climb steps to access them.

“There were several reports of people being able to board at one stop, but not able to exit the tram at their preferred destination resulting in the tram user having to remain on the tram to the end of the route and return to their original stop,” the DRC report said.

On the flip side, not enough low-floor trams were being used on routes with accessible stops.

DRC executive officer Kerri Cassidy said making more tram stops accessible would not only help wheelchair-users but also passengers with prams, luggage and shopping buggies.

VCOSS is working with 40 disability groups on the Empowered Lives campaign lobbying for more government funding to make the state’s public transport system more accessible.

Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne said the State Government was upgrading the public transport system to create a modern, accessible network.

Public Transport Victoria chief executive officer Jeroen Weimar said detailed information about all accessibility features at stations and stops was published on the PTV website.

‘Trams are, in most places, unusable for me and other mobility-aid users’

Martin Leckey says too many stops are at road level, making it impossible for wheelchair and mobility-aid users to board trams — even ‘accessible’, low-floor ones. Picture: Ellen Smith

Martin Leckey

I have used a power wheelchair to get around since sustaining a disability in a car accident 34 years ago.

I rely on public transport nearly every day, but face many problems with access, particularly for trams.

The problem is the lack of accessible (level access) tram stops, the lack of accessible (low-floor) trams, and the poor match-up between them.

There are low-floor trams on routes 19 and 6 where there are almost no level-access stops. Other places have level-access stops but no accessible trams.

This means that trams are, in most places, unusable for me and other mobility-aid users and causes many problems with getting places for work, education, social engagements, recreation and medical appointments.

It takes longer to get places, and I might get there late or not at all, and I usually cannot travel with friends and family on trams.

This impacts on my ability to join in community life on an equal basis with others.

Urgent investment in accessible trams and tram stops is needed.