❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the accessibility of Transperth buses for passengers with disabilities, inquiring about the availability, allocation, and scheduling of accessible buses, as well as driver assistance policies. The Minister's response details the current state of accessible buses and future plans.
AnsweredQoN 366Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
In answer to question 202 of 4 May 2005 regarding equitable access to public transport, the minister stated that passengers with disabilities should use buses with accessibility features in order to board. (1) Do buses with these accessibility features run on all services in the metropolitan area? (2) If no to (1), what criteria does the government use to decide which services the accessible buses run on? (3) If yes to (1), are accessible buses rotated through different services? (4) Are accessible buses rotated through different departure times on any given service? (5) How can a passenger with disabilities be assured that a bus running on a given service at a given time will be an accessible bus? (6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(1) Do buses with these accessibility features run on all services in the metropolitan area? (2) If no to (1), what criteria does the government use to decide which services the accessible buses run on? (3) If yes to (1), are accessible buses rotated through different services? (4) Are accessible buses rotated through different departure times on any given service? (5) How can a passenger with disabilities be assured that a bus running on a given service at a given time will be an accessible bus? (6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(2) If no to (1), what criteria does the government use to decide which services the accessible buses run on? (3) If yes to (1), are accessible buses rotated through different services? (4) Are accessible buses rotated through different departure times on any given service? (5) How can a passenger with disabilities be assured that a bus running on a given service at a given time will be an accessible bus? (6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(3) If yes to (1), are accessible buses rotated through different services? (4) Are accessible buses rotated through different departure times on any given service? (5) How can a passenger with disabilities be assured that a bus running on a given service at a given time will be an accessible bus? (6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(4) Are accessible buses rotated through different departure times on any given service? (5) How can a passenger with disabilities be assured that a bus running on a given service at a given time will be an accessible bus? (6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(5) How can a passenger with disabilities be assured that a bus running on a given service at a given time will be an accessible bus? (6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(9) Not applicable.
(1) Do buses with these accessibility features run on all services in the metropolitan area? (2) If no to (1), what criteria does the government use to decide which services the accessible buses run on? (3) If yes to (1), are accessible buses rotated through different services? (4) Are accessible buses rotated through different departure times on any given service? (5) How can a passenger with disabilities be assured that a bus running on a given service at a given time will be an accessible bus? (6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(2) If no to (1), what criteria does the government use to decide which services the accessible buses run on? (3) If yes to (1), are accessible buses rotated through different services? (4) Are accessible buses rotated through different departure times on any given service? (5) How can a passenger with disabilities be assured that a bus running on a given service at a given time will be an accessible bus? (6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(3) If yes to (1), are accessible buses rotated through different services? (4) Are accessible buses rotated through different departure times on any given service? (5) How can a passenger with disabilities be assured that a bus running on a given service at a given time will be an accessible bus? (6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(4) Are accessible buses rotated through different departure times on any given service? (5) How can a passenger with disabilities be assured that a bus running on a given service at a given time will be an accessible bus? (6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(5) How can a passenger with disabilities be assured that a bus running on a given service at a given time will be an accessible bus? (6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(6) Is a timetable available for passengers with disabilities advising them of the timing of accessible bus services? (7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(7) Although not required to undertake heavy lifting of passengers, is it possible for drivers to assist passengers with alighting to and from buses, similar to services currently provided for train passengers? (8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(8) If no to (7), why not? (9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(9) If yes to (7), when and how will drivers be advised of this requirement? Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
Hon ADELE FARINA replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(1) No. At the moment, Transperth’s general bus fleet consists of 1 025 buses, of which 467 are low-floor accessible buses. In addition, there are 21 central area transit buses in the Perth central business district. In 2005-06, a further 71 buses will be delivered in Transperth’s long-term bus supply contract with DaimlerChrysler. This long-term supply arrangement continues out until 2011 and the bus fleet will continue to become more and more accessible as further deliveries occur. (2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(2) Prior to introducing accessible buses into the general fleet, Transperth consulted with the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s customer advisory committee, a group that represents passengers with a range of disability interests. The consensus reached by this group was that the buses should be allocated wherever possible on a route-by-route basis; that is so that all buses operating a particular route will be guaranteed as low-floor accessible. This provides people with disabilities, seniors and customers with prams with a degree of certainty that if they catch a bus on a particular route they will have an accessible bus service on their return. This consultation resulted, for example, in the Circle Route, being the first bus route to be fully serviced with accessible buses. Currently, Transperth has 44 accessible bus routes that are identified as accessible routes on the timetable. Transperth will continue to make more and more routes accessible as new buses are delivered. (3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable. (4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(4) No. As Transperth receives the new accessible buses into its fleet and when there are enough buses to allocate to a route, all services on that route are trips that are operated with accessible buses. The timetable is then amended to show that the route is accessible. (5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(5) Accessible bus routes are advertised on bus timetables and the information is also available on the Transperth web site and via the Transperth telephone information line on 136 213. In addition, Transperth is printing an accessible bus routes brochure. (6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(6) Yes. (7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(7)-(8) Bus drivers are permitted to assist, but it is an individual decision for the bus drivers to use their judgment. Neither bus drivers nor train staff are required to undertake any heavy lifting of passengers with disabilities. For train passengers, it is relatively easy to provide a ramp to allow access to the train from the platform. However, it would be logistically difficult to provide a ramp to allow access onto Transperth’s older high-floor buses. These buses have not been designed to carry the extensive ramps that would be required to allow, for example, wheelchair access between the footpath and the passenger aisle of the bus. Further, the interior of the older buses is not designed to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Low-floor accessible buses are a fundamentally different design to the older high-floor buses and this design meets the Australian design rules for the new types of buses. (9) Not applicable.
(9) Not applicable.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.