Stranded: the fight for disability transport access

A system under strain

Community transport services, designed to assist those unable to access mainstream public transport, are buckling under increasing demand. In Queensland, TransitCare, one of the state’s largest community transport providers, recently stopped accepting new clients, citing an inability to meet the surging need. Last year alone, the organisation delivered over 300,000 trips, but CEO Terry O’Toole admitted they were at capacity.

This shortage leaves many, especially in regional areas, without reliable transport to essential services like medical appointments, grocery stores or social engagements. In 2022, some people with disability in regional Queensland reported waiting up to three hours for a wheelchair-accessible taxi.

Public transport: progress and pitfalls

While many public transport systems are making accessibility upgrades, progress is uneven. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported that the percentage of people with disability who could access all public transport types without difficulty actually declined from 66 percent in 2018 to 63 percent in 2022.

In Melbourne, only 28 percent of tram stops were accessible as of 2023, well behind federal targets.

Although new tools like the Navilens app are helping people with vision impairment navigate transport networks, they don’t address the broader systemic gaps.

Real lives, real barriers

Declan Lee, a disability advocate with cerebral palsy, was once stranded for over three hours waiting for a wheelchair-accessible taxi, causing him to miss a vital health appointment.

In regional Queensland, David Conway, who uses a wheelchair and has vision impairment, was injured after a driver failed to secure his chair properly. These are not one-off incidents — they’re symptoms of a fragmented system urgently needing reform.

Finding help: how the Disability Support Guide can assist

If you’re struggling to find reliable, accessible transport options in your area, theDisability Support Guide is a useful place to start.

You can use the platform to:

• search for local transport providers that cater specifically to people with disability;
• compare services based on availability, location and support offered;
• read helpful articles about funding, accessibility and your rights;
• find plan managers or coordinators who can assist in organising your transport support under the NDIS.
  

Just visitdisabilitysupportguide.com.au and enter your location or transport needs to start exploring options. You can also browse providers offering support coordination, who may help you plan for better access.

Why it matters

Transport is more than just a service, it’s a lifeline to healthcare, employment, education and social connection. The Australian Institute of Family Studies has linked poor transport access with lower well-being, greater isolation and reduced opportunity.

Even with NDIS transport funding, many people still fall through the cracks, especially in rural areas where options are limited or non-existent.

Where to from here?

Fixing community transport access means:

• investing in more funded transport services, especially in high-need areas;
  
• enforcing accessibility standards across public transport infrastructure;
  
• improving driver training and service accountability; and
  
• giving people more tools, like the Disability Support Guide, to find and evaluate their options.

We must stop treating accessible transport as a bonus or an afterthought; it’s a basic right and one that too many Australians with disability are still fighting for.

What do you think about the transport near you? Let the team at Talking Disability know and subscribe to the newsletter for more information, news and industry updates.

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A guide to accessible public transport across Australia

Planes, trains and automobiles — your transport options

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