Skip to content 
The Law Commission has announced a new review into the accessibility of transport for disabled people across England and Wales, examining whether current laws provide effective, enforceable and practical protection.
Full announcement:
https://lawcom.gov.uk/news/law-commission-to-review-law-on-accessibility-of-transport-for-disabled-people/
This review is both timely and necessary.
Despite existing duties under the Equality Act 2010, many disabled people continue to face significant barriers when using transport. These barriers are not limited to physical access. They also include uncertainty, lack of information, and difficulty understanding environments before travelling.
For many individuals, particularly those with hidden disabilities such as autism, anxiety, or cognitive impairments, not knowing what to expect can be enough to prevent a journey from taking place at all.
There is growing recognition that transport accessibility must extend beyond infrastructure and compliance. True accessibility includes the ability to plan, understand and confidently anticipate a journey in advance.
This aligns with the broader principle of reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act, where service providers are required to take anticipatory steps to avoid substantial disadvantage to disabled people.
The Law Commission’s review provides an important opportunity to consider how accessibility law can evolve to reflect real world experience, close the gap between rights and outcomes, and keep pace with technological and societal change.
If accessibility is to be meaningful, it must be practical, usable, and embedded at every stage of a journey, not just at the point of arrival.
Ocean 3D will be following this review closely and contributing where appropriate.
If you are responsible for transport, public services, or customer accessibility and would like to explore practical ways to improve pre journey accessibility and user confidence, we would welcome a conversation. Please contact us via the form below.