SOLIHULL MP SUPPORTS CAMPAIGN TO GET MORE DISABLED PEOPLE ONTO PUBLIC TRANSPORT

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 6th Feb 2007

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt is backing a campaign to encourage more disabled people to use public transport and exercise new rights to fair treatment on buses, trains, trams and taxis.

The Disability Rights Commission's (DRC's) campaign is being launched with a poll* revealing that disabled people are four times more likely to lack confidence using buses and trains than non-disabled people.

The DRC's campaign- GOJO - follows changes to the Disability Discrimination Act introduced in December 2006. Under the new legislation a bus driver is required to notify someone with a visual impairment when they reach their stop and train staff can be asked to bring refreshments to a passenger who can't walk to the buffet car.

The GOJO campaign aims to increase awareness of improvements made in public transport - £600 million invested to make buses and trains more user friendly - and to rebuild the confidence of disabled travellers.

Lorely Burt MP said:

"I'm backing the DRC's GOJO campaign as an important step in raising disabled people's confidence in using public transport. Increasing access to buses and trains is a crucial must for disabled people to take up job opportunities, education and leisure and to play a full and active role in the community."

Sir Bert Massie, Chairman of the DRC said:

"Millions have been invested in making public transport more user-friendly. But in some parts of the country, lack of confidence is the major barrier for disabled people using buses and trains. We need to see a return on this investment through increased transport use."