Disability campaigners in London have continued their fight for grater clarity around the sweeping measures as England begins to ease lockdown measures.

Plans were announced to create one of the worlds largest car free zones in London to help create more space for social distancing , walking and cycling. Within this announcement it was promised that access for disabled people will be maintained as part of the plan. it was originally announced that free travel at peak times would be temporarily suspended for disabled people with freedom passes and older people with plus 60 cards. This was necessary due to TFL being hit hard by the pandemic lockdown. The suspension has rightly caused concern from disabled people , some expressing threats of legal action. Transport for all ( TfA ) a charity that campaigns on accessible transport across London said it was “extremely concerned” that concessions may become unavailable at peak times.

The government since has confirmed that working-age disabled people will be able to use their Freedom Passes during peak hours, it is still not clear where that leaves 60+ people. More thought and work needs to be put into finding a way for TfL to recover without overly impacting certain groups of people who are already at a disadvantage. This is all new ground for everyone something we have not faced before.

TfA said it was talking to TfL and the mayor’s office in an attempt to “iron these things out” and to ensure that the “disabled person’s perspective” was heard and “to get answers that work for everybody”.

Original source: https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/coronavirus-greater-clarity-needed-over-mayors-covid-19-transport-plans/