Why Accessible Transport Cannot Wait
By sarah Lilly, Deputy Manager, Cerebral Palsy Midlands
On Wednesday 11th February 2026, I had the privilege of attending the “Journeys for Everyone: Accessibility Summit” at the fully accessible and inclusive Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton. And by fully accessible I mean that there were Changing Place toilets, lift access, widened doorways, hearing loops, guide dogs, BSL speakers and quiet spaces. Accessibility had clearly been considered from the outset, not added as an afterthought.
This was a stadium built to bring people together and on this day, it brought together advocates, transport leaders, disabled people, businesses and community voices with one shared ambition: "We should all be able to navigate accross the West Midlands equally, safely and with confidence."
The Vision vs the Reality
West Midlands Transport has an ambition that by 2035, 50% more people will be using sustainable public transport (buses, rail and tram) and that journeys from home to destination should take no longer than 45 minutes.
The ‘45-minute region’ vision means:
You should be able to access key services within 15 minutes by walking or wheeling.
Work, leisure and social opportunities should be reachable within 45 minutes via bus, train, tram, taxi or on-demand services.
You can read more about the Local Transport Plan here:
It is a bold and welcome ambition. But for disabled people, the current reality is very different. We heard that:
79% of disabled people travel less often because of barriers
84% experience longer journey times
75% say travelling causes stress
Emma Partlow, speaker at the Summit from the National Centre for Accessible Transport (NCAT) shared that:
92% of disabled people experience at least one barrier when travelling.
NCAT research also shows that 1 in 5 disabled people are unable to travel due to a lack of appropriate transport options.
These stats demonstrate a very clear picture and that is, we all do not have equal access. There are so many barriers that we need to overcome and change. Barriers are not just about step-free access or whether a lift works. They include:
Broken or missing lifts
Inaccessible pavements
Steep dropped kerbs
Pavement parking
Street clutter such as bins, bin bags and pub signs
Lack of Changing Places toilets
And perhaps most difficult of all, societal attitudes
When transport isn’t accessible, people with disabilities have reduced access to work, education, healthcare, friendships and independence. It affects learning, life and opportunity. Transport is not just about getting from A to B. It is about equality, dignity, autonomy and belonging.
The Deaf Community and the Driving Gap
Speaker Sammey Ahmed from Deaf World delivered a powerful insight into the road safety project designed by Deaf people, for Deaf people.(Sammey Ahemd pictured on the right at the Summit)
Deaf people face significant barriers when learning to drive. There are not enough driving theory resources in British Sign Language. Even more shockingly, there is only one qualified Deaf driving instructor in the UK.
That is not inclusion.
Deaf World and campaigners like Sammey are pushing for practical, achievable solutions. - you can read more about their campaign 1st Gear here. By breaking down these barriers, more Deaf people could travel indpeendently, leading to more job opportunities, increased confidence, and less dependence on family and caregivers.
Positive Change is Possible | Highlighting positive experiences
Among the powerful stories shared was that of Alexandra Davis, Disability Advocate and creator of the YouTube channel “Having a Wheelie Great Life.”
At the Summit, Alexandra spoke about how the "Passenger Assistance App" has transformed her experience of rail travel. Through the app, passengers can register their access requirements in advance.
In one instance, when her train was cancelled and she missed a connection, staff contacted her via the app to check she was safe and to understand where she was. Its definetely reassuring to hear that this app has really helped Alexandra's confidence in travelling on rail. It demonstrates what is possible when technology, planning and inclusion work together.
Pavement Parking – A Cultural Barrier
At Cerebral Palsy Midlands, this is an issue we have regularly campaigned about. We have even featured on Central News highlighting the dangers of parking on pavements - read more here.
For many, parking partly on the pavement may seem harmless or convenient. But for wheelchair users, people with mobility scooters, blind or partially sighted people, or parents with buggies, it can completely block a route.
Pictured above on Victoria Road, opposite the CPM Centre, one of our CPM citizens captured footage using a body camera. The bar visible in the image is part of the wheelchair’s driving mechanism. Ahead, a car blocks the pathway, ironically parked beneath a road sign warning that disabled people are nearby. The individual would have had to reverse, find a dropped kerb and travel along the road itself, which would have been a far less safe option. Infrastructure matters, but culture matters too
How do we shift public perception?
How do we help society understand that what may seem like a minor inconvenience to one person can become a complete barrier to another?
"Living Streets" are currently campaigning to end pavement parking.
High Streets vs City Centres
In afternoon focus groups, we explored the accessibility gap between city centres and local high streets. City centres have seen significant adaptations and investment in accessibility. Yet many local high streets have not followed suit.
In 2020 CPM was involved in a research project within our local Harborne High Street. Pictured on the right a significant number of shops were deemed completely inaccessible.
Disabled people are more likely to rely on their local high streets. Yet barriers remain, including:
Steep or poorly designed dropped kerbs
50% of shops and services lacking accessible entrances
Narrow layouts that exclude wheelchair and mobility scooter users
A lack of Changing Places toilets
Street furniture obstructing pathways
Disabled people represent one in five of society.
The Purple Pound campaign highlights that more than 14 million disabled people in the UK have a combined spending power of £274 billion and are fiercely loyal to accessible organisations.
Learn more here: https://wearepurple.org.uk/
This reinforces the need for change for better and more inclusive accessibility, not just as a moral responsibility, but as an economic opportunity. There must be stronger incentives, clearer guidance and meaningful support to help local businesses see the value of removing barriers.
Collaboration for Inclusive Change and Moving forward
The purpose of the Journeys for Everyone Summit was clear: collaboration.
To integrate marginalised community voices.
To listen.
To co-produce.
To build solutions together.
Accessibility is not a “nice to have.” It is not a bolt-on. It is not an afterthought. It is fundamental.
If we want 50% more people using West Midlands public transport by 2035, then accessibility must lead the way. Because without accessible systems, that ambition excludes the very people who most need reliable, affordable and sustainable transport.
As Deputy Manager at Cerebral Palsy Midlands, I left the Summit feeling both challenged and hopeful.
Challenged – because the barriers are still significant.
Hopeful – because there is real momentum for change.
We need transport that is:
Accessible
Dependable
Easy to use
Reliable
Designed with disabled people and not just for them
True equality in travel means independence.
It means opportunity.
It means confidence.
On behalf of Cerebral Palsy Midlands and our community, we will continue to stay connected, attend forums and summits, and advocate for meaningful change.
Please share your comments below. For further information regarding this blog please email Deputy Manager Sarah Lilly at sarah@cpmids.org.uk.
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