Why isn’t our public transport network accessible for all?

Joanne Lockwood is joined by accessibility consultant Andy Barrow to explore why public transport still isn’t accessible for everyone, and what meaningful accessibility looks like in real-world travel.

They discuss where physical infrastructure is difficult to retrofit, and why assisted travel often becomes the make-or-break factor. Andy shares how poor processes and inconsistent culture can leave disabled passengers having to negotiate for basic support, from priority seating and bus wheelchair spaces to ramps not being provided at stations. Together they unpack how these situations create anxiety, remove agency, and add hidden “time costs” to everyday life.

The conversation moves from individual incidents to organisational responsibility: designing for equity rather than one-size-fits-all solutions, building plan B responses when things go wrong, and creating a culture where frontline staff feel empowered to solve problems without fear of blame. Andy also shares his personal story as a Paralympian and how sport shaped his confidence and commitment to independence.

Along the way they touch on how language and assumptions shape inclusion, and why listening to lived experience is essential if organisations want to build services that work for a wide range of needs.