‘If access to buses and taxis is difficult, there will be problems’published at 10:44 GMT
10:44 GMT
Lauren Stanley
London
Image source, Press Association
This morning we’ve been hearing opponents of the pedestrianisation
scheme discussing accessibility for elderly and disabled as one of their key
concerns.
Back in April, one of the groups advocating for disabled
Londoners, Inclusion London, said it supported the mayor’s aims for making
London cleaner, safer and less congested, but that it had concerns that the
plans to fully pedestrianise Oxford Street could create new barriers for
disabled people if accessibility is not properly considered.
Last week, chair of Inclusion London, Adam Gabsi told BBC Radio
London’s Eddie Nestor: “I am a wheelchair user and rely on access and smooth travel to
get me to where I’m trying to get to.
“The proof
will be in the pudding. If access to buses and taxis becomes difficult, then
there’ll be problems for people like me.”
He said
that although disabled Londoners were consulted on plans, it wasn’t co-produced
by disabled Londoners.
Another access group, Wheels for Wellbeing
argues that Oxford Street’s transformation could be a major accessibility win
for disabled people, but only if buses, mobility aids, accessible cycling, Blue
Badge parking and step-free transport are properly built into the final design.
And sight loss charity Guide Dogs said it was “delighted that large parts of Oxford Street are now traffic-free”.
“With approximately 214,000 Londoners living with sight loss, and thousands more vision impaired people visiting the capital every year, the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street will improve safety and accessibility,” said Clive Wood, lead policy and campaigns manager.
“We welcome the move and look forward to continuing to work with TfL to ensure the redesign goes beyond simply removing traffic, creating a space that is genuinely inclusive and easier for everyone to navigate independently.”