The long-term transport policy guidelines of the Ministry of Transport and Communications emphasize everyone's right and possibility to move. The transport system must safely meet the daily mobility needs of also children, the elderly, and people with reduced function. Everyone shall have access to basic services and related information. The accessibility of public transport shall be improved. The Constitution also requires not only elimination of discriminating practices but also active measures to promote equality.

Reduced mobility is often related to age, illness or injury. The problem, however, touches us all: it has been estimated that people spend approximately 40 per cent of their lifetime with reduced mobility and function in one way or another. For example passengers with heavy luggage or parents travelling with small children experience different types of obstacles to mobility. The rapid ageing of the population poses a great challenge to the future. By 2030, the proportion of 65 years old or older will increase from the present 15 per cent to over 25 per cent.

 A possibility to independent mobility will curb the growth of costs of special transport and care services needed. Good examples of user-friendlier or safer solutions for all end-users are low-floor trains and buses, clear public transport information, a comprehensible road environment as well as good anti-skid treatment of sidewalks.

The strategy report includes several measures to increase the accessibility of the transport system. The present situation, problems and measures have been handled separately with regard to the pedestrian environment, driving and the quality, information and terminals of public transport and the different modes of public transport. The party responsible for each measure has been determined and possible co-operation partners have been assigned. In order to carry out solutions that increase accessibility it is proposed that accessibility always be observed in the normal management, maintenance and investments of transport infrastructure and that the financing of the present transport infrastructure is directed at measures promoting accessibility. To support the work promoting accessibility, a Research and Development Programme for Accessibility shall be launched under the leadership of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, through which operations on the local level are supported by financing and planning as well as by pilot projects. The Accessible Municipality network shall as well be included as part of the programme.

Ministry of Transport and Communications
Ms. Irja Vesanen-Nikitin, tel. + 358 9 1602 8544

05/08/2003

policy

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment

Research & innovation