'If we fix public transport for people with disabilities, we fix it for everyone.
I’ve believed this about public transport for as long as I can remember, and I’m pleased to see it shared as a core belief at the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) as we move forward with Melbourne’s new G Class trams.
In early 2024, I travelled overseas and looked at the experiences of people with disabilities on public transport. I was surprised that the challenges were pretty much the same everywhere: outdated infrastructure, rolling stock designed in less inclusive eras, and managing heritage protection and tight budgets.
Sound familiar?
While different countries have their own solutions, one thing we excel at is community consultation.
Genuine co-design is critical to building a transport system that works for everyone—not just people with disabilities but also older Victorians, parents with prams, and travellers with luggage. Our approach to designing the new G Class trams highlights how we can effectively hear and be informed by these needs and preferences.
The project went to great lengths to ensure a wide group of people reviewed the G Class design, ensuring we gathered insights from diverse lived experiences.
We might not always agree on what ‘better accessibility’ means; but when we come together in a meaningful co-design process like this, we create something much better.
This document shares these conversations, the valuable feedback received, and how the design has been fine-tuned in response, which will make catching the tram easier for everyone.'
As Chief Accessibility Advocate, Tricia’s role is to amplify the voices of people with disabilities and provide timely advice and support to DTP regarding accessibility. Tricia has been instrumental in supporting people with disabilities during the development of the Next Generation Trams.
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