Driving inclusion: How digital tech is advancing accessible transport

Accessible and inclusive transport ensures that all individuals, regardless of physical ability, age, or socioeconomic status, can travel safely and independently. It removes physical, informational, and systemic barriers to mobility, allowing people with disabilities, elderly individuals, and underserved communities to participate fully in society. For these groups, accessible transport is not just a convenience but a necessity for healthcare, employment, education, and social interactions.

However, public transport systems often fail to provide inclusive services due to infrastructural deficiencies, a lack of real-time information, and inadequate support for passengers with diverse needs. These shortcomings have a detrimental impact on vulnerable populations, reducing mobility and generating social isolation and economic exclusion.

Digital technology is emerging as a key enabler of accessible and inclusive transport. Innovations such as real-time navigation apps, AI-powered assistance, and smart ticketing systems improve transit accessibility by offering personalised travel information and eliminating physical barriers. For instance, navigation applications like Waymap provide precise, step-by-step guidance tailored for individuals with visual impairments, allowing users to navigate complex transit systems independently. Such technologies are critical to creating a more equitable and socially inclusive transport landscape, as they empower people with disabilities through real-time information and support. This bridges the gap between existing infrastructure limitations and user needs. By integrating digital tools into transport services, providers can offer personalised assistance, improve service reliability, and foster an environment where all passengers feel confident and supported in their travel experiences.

Digital technology can be a catalyst for accessible and inclusive transport if there is a change in how we approach barriers such as insufficient infrastructure, poor accessibility information, and untrained staff. First, developers should co-create applications alongside vulnerable users to ensure the design is inclusive and user-centric. Distrust towards digital services should be prevented by giving clear information on data use and demonstrating how data is instrumental in creating a more efficient and accessible transport system for all. Likewise, the risks of cybersecurity should be thoroughly explained.

Funding schemes should have clear objectives and approaches. The opportunities associated with investing in accessibility should be better promoted. Inclusive, accessible products and services offer a significant return on investment in the long run. The combined spending power of households with at least one disabled person, known as the Purple Pound, is worth approximately £274 billion per year to the UK economy. Such market opportunities should be better communicated to attract private investment.

To understand how digital technology facilitates accessibility in transport, it is worth exploring some practical applications:

Real-time data and mobile applications

Real-time data integrated into mobile applications empowers users with immediate information on transport schedules, delays, and accessibility features. This immediacy enables individuals, especially those with disabilities, to plan and adjust their journeys effectively. For example, Waymap provides precise, step-by-step guidance for individuals with visual impairments. The app functions seamlessly indoors, outdoors, and even underground by using AI-based positioning algorithms that eliminate the need for GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or mobile data. It leverages raw data from the phone’s accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, and barometer, transforming that into accurate measurements of the user’s step length and direction.

Artificial intelligence (AI) And machine learning

AI and machine learning optimise transport services by analysing vast datasets to predict travel patterns and personalise user experiences. Icomera, a leader in mobile internet connectivity for public transport, has harnessed AI to create smarter, connected systems, enhancing operational efficiency and passenger experience. Its subsidiary, GoMedia, recently launched ‘Project Luna,’ a transport accessibility app that uses AI to translate digital information listed online into British Sign Language (BSL). This transmits the knowledge directly to passengers through their smart devices via a personalised digital signer.

IoT and sensors

IoT devices and sensors collect and transmit data on transport infrastructure and usage, facilitating proactive maintenance and real-time service adjustments. In the UK, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) utilise IoT technologies to monitor conditions and dynamically respond to accessibility needs. Hence, ensuring a more inclusive transport environment. For instance, WeWalk, a smart cane designed for visually impaired people, incorporates IoT technology, sensors, Bluetooth connectivity, and a touchpad to provide real-time feedback about obstacles and navigation assistance. It integrates real-time public transport data to deliver voice alerts about bus stops, train times, and other location information. WeWalk empowers users to take longer trips without managing both their cane and smartphone simultaneously.

Autonomous vehicles

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) promise increased independence for individuals with mobility challenges. The UK government has legislated for self-driving vehicles to be operational on British roads by 2026, aiming to transform travel for older adults and people with disabilities. For instance, the CAVForth autonomous bus exemplifies how AVs can advance accessibility and inclusivity in transport by integrating innovative design and zero-emission technology. Operated by Stagecoach, the service features step-free access, designated wheelchair spaces, and a smooth ride experience, ensuring that passengers with mobility challenges can travel comfortably. Advanced AI and sensor technologies enhance safety by detecting obstacles and adjusting routes in real-time. Additionally, as a zero-carbon emission vehicle, it promotes sustainable and accessible transport, reducing environmental barriers for all passengers. This initiative demonstrates how AVs can be designed for inclusivity, offering greater independence and reliability for disabled and elderly individuals.

Despite the benefits, implementing digital accessibility solutions presents technical, operational, and data privacy challenges. Integrating new technologies into existing transport infrastructures requires significant investment and coordination among stakeholders. Ensuring interoperability between legacy systems and modern digital solutions is complex. To address these challenges, experts recommend a phased implementation approach, consisting of gradually updating legacy systems while adopting open data standards and best practices for system integration. Additionally, maintaining the reliability and accuracy of real-time data is crucial for ensuring user trust and safety.

The deployment of IoT devices and AI systems involves the collection of personal and location data, raising concerns about privacy and potential misuse. To mitigate these risks, robust data protection measures should be implemented. This includes anonymising data, securing data storage and transmission, and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations. By prioritising these measures, transport authorities can enhance accessibility while building a secure and resilient digital transport ecosystem that earns users’ confidence. Addressing these challenges not only builds trust and resilience but also unlocks significant opportunities for investment and growth in accessible transport.

Investing in accessible transport in the UK presents significant business opportunities, driven by the need to address existing barriers and the potential for substantial returns. Despite advancements, many disabled people continue to face challenges when accessing transportation. A study by the National Centre for Accessible Transport revealed that over 90% of disabled people encounter obstacles with at least one mode of transport, with issues such as poorly designed infrastructure and unreliable step-free access being prevalent. Yet, these challenges also illuminate clear opportunities for innovative public and private investment models that bridge the gap between current limitations and a more inclusive future.

When inclusivity is woven into the fabric of innovation, the rewards are transformative, both socially and economically. At the heart of this transformation lies the underutilised economic driver of the “Purple Pound.” Representing the spending power of disabled consumers, the Purple Pound offers an untapped reservoir of potential. Despite its enormity, many conventional business strategies have yet to fully incorporate this economic force. By aligning investments with the demands of accessible transport technology, we can unlock robust returns on investment while driving systemic change that benefits the entire economy.

The convergence of public and private investment, such as Public-private partnerships (PPPs), is essential to overcoming persistent challenges in funding and resource allocation. A PPP is a collaborative agreement between government bodies and private sector organisations to fund, develop, and operate public infrastructure projects. The UK government has long used PPPs to improve transport networks, particularly where private investment brings innovation, efficiency, and additional financial resources. Successful examples include infrastructure projects such as the London Underground upgrades and accessible bus services, where private sector involvement has enhanced service delivery. By leveraging PPPs, accessibility projects can secure sustainable funding while benefiting from private sector expertise and efficiency.

The economic case for accessibility investments is compelling, as inclusive workplaces and transport networks contribute to higher productivity, retention, and innovation. Collaborative financing models and strategic partnerships can transform long-held obstacles into opportunities for sustainable progress. When businesses, policymakers, and community leaders unite to harness the power of the Purple Pound, we pave the way for an economic strategy that is both innovative and inclusive.

Digital technology is playing a transformative role in advancing accessibility within the transport sector. As highlighted throughout this discussion, innovations such as real-time data applications, AI-driven assistance, IoT-enabled devices, and autonomous vehicles are breaking down traditional barriers to mobility. These tools are not just enhancing the travel experience for people with disabilities and other underserved groups, they are redefining what it means to have inclusive, equitable transport systems.

However, the successful deployment of these technologies depends on a holistic approach. This includes co-designing solutions with users, ensuring data privacy and security, and integrating digital tools seamlessly into existing transport infrastructures. When thoughtfully implemented, digital solutions foster greater independence, confidence, and participation for all passengers.

Opportunities such as the Purple Pound, combined with strong public-private partnerships, can drive sustainable innovation while generating substantial benefits for both society and business.

Ultimately, digital innovation is not a silver bullet, but it is a powerful catalyst. By embedding accessibility at the core of technological advancements, we can create transport systems that are truly inclusive, empowering everyone to move freely and participate fully in economic and social life.

Writing credit

This article was written in collaboration with Damian Joseph Bridgeman,
co-founder Bridgeman Community Foundation, Social investor, disability Campaigner