because having a network that's accessible to everyone is really important
Councillor Tracey Rawlins is the disability advocate for the Bee Network and her role is to make sure we have the most accessible transport network we can right across Greater Manchester.
We caught up with Tracey at Shudehill station and had a chat about accessibility on the Bee Network.
See a transcript of our conversation below.
Improved accessibility on Bee Network buses
"The latest developments of the brilliant new yellow buses that you'll see all around the network where we've got those double spaces for wheelchairs.
"So if I am out and about with a friend, we can sit together, which has been really difficult before and no more buses going past you because there's no room. That's really brilliant.
"There’s also more space for assistance dogs and Guide Dogs. It’s really fantastic that we've got all these extra ways of making sure that we can all travel better when we want to."
Support for visually impaired passengers
"And the most brilliant thing for me anyway, as a visually impaired person, is having the audio description, which helps me know when to get off my stop.
"Also the visual screens that announce the stops that you're coming to. They’re really helpful when it's dark or if you don't know where you are, just to have those prompts so that you can travel more independently without relying on other people to get about your business every day."
Dementia training for drivers and staff
"Our drivers and staff are really key to how we communicate with people and make people feel valued on the network.
"So the fact that we've just done some recent dementia training is really important so that drivers and staff can understand the different situations that people might be in and help them to navigate their way around a city that may be unfamiliar, even though it's their city that they've been in all of their lives."
How the Bee Network is improving accessibility
"Having a network that's accessible to everyone is really, really important.
"All these initiatives come together to create a world which is much more inclusive and accessible, so that everyone and anyone can travel as they want to when they want to independently and make those choices for themselves, rather than being reliant on other people.
"I'm really fortunate that I have the support of the Disability Design Reference Group that really make sure that those voices of disabled people with all sorts of impairments are actually really heard, valued and vocalised.
"So I can just decide tomorrow that I want to go out to a market or to a restaurant and not have to think ‘how do I plan that’ and get somebody else to come along and do it with me.
"And for me, I can do it by myself, independently, in the way that many other people travel across the region."