New guidance published today is encouraging the transport industry to provide for the needs of ethnic and faith minorities.
It features examples of best practice and suggests transport providers can meet the needs of different travellers by:
- Providing timetables in different languages
- Providing additional bus services near places of worship
- Increasing safety late at night for people such as shift workers
Research also published today shows that many people from ethnic minorities feel deterred from using public transport due to language barriers and fears about personal safety. Over 2000 individuals and 55 different groups from the taxi trade through to bus and train operators took part in the survey.
Transport Minister Tony McNulty said everyone needs transport to access services, jobs, cultural, religious and leisure pursuits.
"Transport keeps communities together and if we are going to succeed in delivering it, we need to start by understanding what people think and what they want," he said.
"The guidance we are launching today is important and will help. We need the transport industry and local authorities and community groups to meet with one another, we need to find out about good practice and disseminate it."
