From: Maurice [ddasp@ozemail.com.au]

Sent: Monday, 22 May 2000 10:52

To: disabdis@hreoc.gov.au

Cc: pdca@ozemail.com.au

Subject: EU Buses, one week to the vote

 

To David Mason at HREOC

Hi David,

This looks good for Europe while we seek an exemption in Australia. I

believe this  is relevant to the current application for an exemption by

the ORTA given that the agreement being forged is not just a few bus

companies, but all countries in the European Union.

 

I believe the relevance to this enquiry is that the countries in the

European Union are giving an overall committment to accessible buses. In

Australia we have a process whereby all State and Territory Governments

agree to a set of Accessible Transport Standards and an associated timeline

to comply, yet 1 senior government public servant can prevent the process

moving forward.

 

A major point of resistance in NSW has been arguements put forward by

operators about the hilly terrain and major infrastructure changes to make

bus stops accessible. Suddenly they want to operate 300 accessible buses

that they can lease from everywhere. Something just does not add up! Where

is the consistency and real committment?

Could you please post this message as another individual submission

relating to the ORTA application.

 

Regards Maurice Corcoran 

>Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 11:35:53 +0900

>To: ddasp@ozemail.com.au

 

>Subject: EU Buses, one week to the vote

>

>BUSES FOR ALL (Europe)

>Briefing,    18 May 2000

>

>One week to go

>

>Next Thursday, 25 May 2000, the Ministers from the 15 Member

>States are due to vote on the Buses Directive, and the signs

>remain good that they will vote for mandatory access,

>including ramps or lifts, for every new urban bus in the EU.

>This will be a significant victory for disabled people in

>Europe, and is thanks to the efforts of many disability

>organisations, individuals, and supportive politicians.

>

>A recent trade magazine article for bus companies made a

>very sensible recommendation - that any ramp or lift should

>always be fitted to the front door of a bus, and not to the

>middle door.  This is because, if there is bad parking near

>or in the bus stop, it is easier to get the front of the bus

>near to the pavement (sidewalk) compared with the middle

>door.  It is also easier to communicate with the driver.

>

>It is a good sign of the times when the bus industry is

>thinking the same way that we do.

>

>----------------------------------------------------------www.disabilitynet

.co.uk/groups/busesforall/index.html with

>further details.

>Please feel free to copy this message to other people.