Helping everyone to Keep on Moving
The report has been produced by our Healthwatch on behalf of the five Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Partnership Boards, whose members include and represent older people, those with hearing and vision loss and people with learning and physical disabilities.
Last year, the Partnership Boards ran a series of joint meetings with local councils and transport companies to find out what the difficulties are for people and how to improve things.
They explored
- Roads and footpaths
- Taxis
- Public transport
- Community transport
Now their report, Keep on Moving, highlights some of the barriers for those using mobility aids such as rollators and walkers, long canes, wheelchairs and assistance dogs to help them get out and about.
It also offers up practical information for local people and calls for changes - including more local consultation with people with disabilities.
The difficulties people face include
- Obstacles such as pavement signs or tables and chairs outside cafes and shops
- Parked cars and bicycles blocking pavements
- Dangers and nuisance from E-scooters being ridden on pavements and roads
- Taxis not wanting to take people with assistance dogs
- Uneven roads and paths dug up for repairs and not properly restored
These everyday issues really affect people in our local communities and their ability to stay independent and get around.
It’s not necessarily where they live or where they are going that’s the issue – it’s the how they get there.
The report's recommendations
The Partnership Boards want to see five changes.
- All councils and the Combined Authority should ask people with disabilities for their views on changes to roads and pavements.
- All councils should bring in disability and safeguarding training as part of licensing taxi drivers.
- All bus services in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough should have audio and visual announcements.
- Bus companies should ask local people with disabilities, carers and older people for their views about bus routes.
- Community transport schemes should ask their members about what services they would like in future.
About the Partnership Boards
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Partnership Boards improve services for people who use adult social care.
There are five boards
- Carers
- Learning Disability
- Older People
- Physical Disability
- Sensory Impairment
Their Independent Members are local people with experience of using social care. And their role is to have a say on current and future care provided by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council.
Our Healthwatch organises their regular meetings, supports and offers training to the Independent Members.
