"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has"


Margaret Mead, Anthropologist
(used with permission)



"If you don't like the news .... go out and make some of your own !!"

Wes "Scoop" Nisker, Newscaster



INTRODUCTION

Government is a slow and tedious process. While it often includes citizen and neighborhood involvement, non-governmental, private organizations have created movements and interesting groups which can create positive change in our cities and towns.

I am fascinated by the way groups are created and how they influence public decision making. This blog merely recognizes them and forwards the description of these groups from their own websites.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Transport for All

Location: London, England

Website: www.transportforall.org.uk

As an organisation of disabled and older people we have always been determined to ensure that the grass roots experiences and opinions of service users are always heard by those who commission and run the transport network.

We are and will always be run by older and disabled people – all our trustees are disabled or older transport users, or care for someone who is.

TfA was formerly known as Dial-A-Ride and Taxicard users (DaRT) and was formed through the amalgamation of the user groups of these two services. Over the years, our remit has widened to reflect the fact that more and more of London’s transport network is being ‘unlocked’ for disabled people to use.

There is no doubt that the tireless work of decades of disabled transport campaigners has yielded many victories – but much more has yet to be done to get the affordable, reliable, and accessible transport network that those early campaigners dreamed about.

Our work at TfA has grown over the years to encompass the changes that have been won. From an office in Brixton, our small team of staff and volunteers offer a unique pan-London service – funded by London Councils and supporter donations.

From Blue Badges to Freedom Passes, and from accessible buses to the DLR – we have been working hard to ensure that disabled and older Londoners have the information they need to get from A to B.

TfA’s work with the Community transport sector is an important milestone in our development. CT schemes are providing an important accessible transport service in many local communities – and we hope to work with the Community Transport sector in increasing its profile and working to make it more robust through a specialised training programme.

After the Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2012, we very much see our role as working with the capital’s disabled and older communities and accessible transport providers towards a legacy for the London transport network that meets the needs of all of its citizens.

No comments:

Post a Comment