App to Improve Accessibility for Public Transport
Department for Transport have issued a new Code of Practice to help ensure that navigation apps offer filters such as step free journey options, to help disabled people and to promote safer journeys.
The Code of Practice, named ‘Mobility as a Service’ (MaaS) can be found on the government website linked here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobility-as-a-service-maas-code-of-practice/mobility-as-a-service-code-of-practice
New business models for Transport are emerging all embracing the increasing the available digital and data technologies and the habits of members of the public, who use Smart Phones to assist most of the commercial and social activities. The Code of Practice, which is currently voluntary, has been issued to encourage app developers innovation. It is aimed at ensuring that travel and technology are accessible for all. The technology is already incorporated into popular apps such as Google Maps and Citymapper. As well as assistance for disabled users, the Code of Practice suggests that apps offer suggestions to promote safer travel options late at night for example, and offline options for those requiring digital inclusion users in remote areas without strong internet connections. It is hoped users can also make smarter and more sustainable choices for their journeys, including car sharing, e scooters.
Technology has already been embraced by many transport providers, including smart ticketing. Swift, which is a regional platform for those in the West Midlands is the largest smart ticketing scheme outside of London.
Many small scale trials are currently ongoing, to allow government to see what is needed to embrace technology in a wider scale deployment. In 2020 DfT warded funding to Solent Transport as part of its Future Transport Zones programme to develop a transport app for the region. The result, Breeze, has over 7000 users and was created with support from the University of Portsmouth and University of Southampton.
The intelligent mobility sector is predicted to be a major source of income for the UK by 2025, to the estimated gross value of £4billion, so it is hoped that this Code of Practice is embraced and that the economic and environmental rewards are realised.
