Leonard Cheshire programme campaigns to improve accessibility on the Glasgow Subway
A campaign has been launched calling for greater wheelchair accessibility on the Glasgow Subway because only two of the 15 stations on the underground rapid transit system are accessible for wheelchair users – St Enoch and Govan.
An online petition has been launched by Change Makers, a citizen reporting programme by disability charity Leonard Cheshire calling for the operator, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), to commit to improving wheelchair accessibility for subway users, according to Glasgow Live.
It reads: “On the Glasgow subway, there are 15 stations currently only two of these stations have step-free access and are accessible to wheelchair users, this means that if you use a wheelchair you can only board and depart from two out of 15 stations.
“Around 1.5 per cent of the UK population use a wheelchair, by not being able to access the subway we think this limits opportunities for disabled people to participate in the community just like everybody else.
“Although people who use wheelchairs are primarly affected by this, it also prevents people with mobility issues, some people who are neurodiverse (Autism), elderly people and parents with prams.”
The petition also calls for a change to the policy requiring wheelchairs to be folded up whilst on the trains, saying it is either not possible or can make wheelchair users feel uncomfortable.
The statement continues: “On the SPT website, it also suggests ‘Wheelchairs are permitted in the Subway if folded.’ Although we appreciate the trains are small, many people who use wheelchairs are either unable to transfer or would feel uncomfortable and be left feeling incredibly valuable.
“This also assumes that a wheelchair user would be travelling with someone who could help fold away their wheelchair. This is of course not the case and would limit the independence of many people.”
