Zac Goldsmith, Conservative Party, has committed to protect the Freedom Pass and increase “step-free” access” to 50% of TFL stations by 2018, and for 95% of bus stops to be accessible by the end of this year.

Sadiq Khan, Labour Party: his manifesto commits to ensuring London’s transport system is accessible to all Londoners, with the next fleet of buses “designed with sufficient space for wheelchair users, and a more ambitious approach to step free access on the London Underground and TFL run stations.” 

Sadiq is committed to “speeding up” improvements to the accessibility of public transport and “demand” that “all” new schemes such as Crossrail 2 and Bakerloo Line extension are “fully accessible” for “all” Londoners.  He also commits to examining the impact of ticket office closures, and to explore what can be done to ensure that everyone can purchase tickets and access the information they need.

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrats: whilst her manifesto says little about accessible transport, Caroline Pidgeon provided us with a very comprehensive reply to our email enquiry about her position on the issue:

(i) Bus travel: Caroline intends to ensure that guidance for bus drivers specifying that wheelchair users should be given priority access to the designated space is uniformly enforced across London’s bus fleet.  She also believes that bus companies should be penalised if they fail to address non-compliance of this guidance.

(ii) Tube and rail network: Caroline strongly supports continued investment in improving access across the Tube and railway network in the following areas:

• Continued investment in step-free access schemes across the Tube
• The expansion of the use of mobile ramps at Tube stations.
• The adoption of a policy of zero tolerance towards sudden lift closures due to the absence of trained staff.
• Commuter train routes to be taken over by TFL and operated to the same access standards as currently exist on London Overground.
• Taking the fight to Westminster to ensure that the Access for All fund for access improvements at train stations is increased.
• Where step-free access is not available at a TFL station where normally provided, and in the absence of an alternative fully accessible form of transport, a taxi should be offered to the nearest available step free station en route, or to the customer's final destination if it is more practical.   
• Ensuring that this policy is fully understood by all TFL staff and is properly advertised at stations.

iii) Door to door transport: Caroline will retain the Dial-a-Ride service and hopes to ensure Dial-a-Ride provides a more reliable and effective service, especially to people in the outer London boroughs, through better booking/scheduling and more efficient use of its drivers.

(iv) Taxis: She commits to doing “everything possible to ensure the law regarding the carriage of Assistance Dogs is applied and would urge TFL to review the licence given to drivers who blatantly breach the law on this issue.” She also commits to delivering 25% of private hire vehicles being wheelchair accessible over the next 4 years.

Sian Berry, Green Party, has committed to a “full independent review” of accessibility on the transport network.  She will make the case for the social value of access improvement schemes building a new investment programme with 50% more funding than currently.   

If you'd like to find out more about the candidates and read their manifestos, click the links below:

Zac Goldsmith, Conservative Party

Sadiq Khan, Labour Party

Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrats

Sian Berry, Green Party

If you are a Mayoral candidate and would like to tell us more about what you are offering the 1.2 million disabled Londoners, we’d be very happy to hear from you and share it with our readers and followers.  Email our Policy Manager Andy Shipley. 

Find out more about the Mayor of London election on 5th May at www.londonelects.org.uk. 

Go back to our blog: London Mayoral candidates and disability