Huge turn-out for Upper Hutt’s Public Transport Open Day

Click for big version
Crowd gathers to see how the wheelchair ramp of Valley Flyer’s new bus

Upper Hutt’s Public Transport Open Day, held on Tuesday March 24 at the Mitre 10 Mega car park and Upper Hutt Railway Station, could not have been more of a success. Over 250 people swarmed the event, which was aimed at giving the public a hands-on opportunity to see all the ways in which public transport has been made more accessible, especially for those with mobility needs.

Upper Hutt City Council’s Community Development Advisor Lillian Fougere says the event was the first collaborative event of its kind in the region between a local authority and various transport operators.

“People from all walks of life streamed into the event throughout the day. Older people, people with disabilities and caregivers with prams all came along to find out how they could travel more easily using the accessible features on public transport.”

The day saw a steady flow of people trying out the many different features that make public transport more accessible, including Valley Flyer buses’ ramps and kneeling buses, Hutt & City Taxis’ wheelchair hoist, and the wheelchair hoist and voice announcements in Tranz Metro’s new SE carriage train.

“The huge number of people attending proved that there was a real need for this event. The issue had been raised previously through our disability and seniors public forums although we soon realised there was a greater need across a wide range of people.
“The day was full of surprises– one young woman in a wheel chair had her first opportunity to ride in a public bus and other attendees were able to give valuable feedback to the transport providers about their vehicles and accessible features. The positive feedback about the event has been overwhelming,” Ms Fougere says.

Nicole Preston, student at Titiro Whakamaua Hutt Valley Teen Parent School said “It was great to learn new things about how good the buses are.”

General Manager of Operations NZ Bus Zane Fulljames says, “Being involved in the open day allowed us to break down barriers for people with mobility issues. It was all about giving people confidence and demonstrating that advances in public transport make it an aid to mobility, rather than a hindrance. By providing a relaxed environment in which people could try out our buses and ask questions, I hope we see more people from the open day on our buses in the near future.”

“It was great to have the opportunity to demonstrate some of the equipment on the new SE trains in the Wellington Region, making it much easier for people with mobility needs to travel on public transport,” says Graeme Mowday, Tranz Metro Marketing Manager .

There has been interest from other Councils in the Wellington region and there is a chance that similar open days will be held in the future.

Heather Lear, Assistant Head of Department for the Learning Support Unit at Hutt Valley High School says, “our students found it really useful because learning how to use public transport is key towards them gaining independence.”

For more information about upcoming events at Upper Hutt City Council which relate to accessibility, please contact Lillian on 527 2798 or email community@uhcc.govt.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media