A MOBILITY scooter user has been recognised as a transport hero in a campaign led by a national charity for sustainable transport.
Tony Jennings, from Ulverston, has been featured as one of the transport heroes recognised for promoting and encouraging sustainable transport as part of the charity's Campaign for Better Transport campaign - Better Transport Week.
The week of celebration and awareness raising is encouraging others to also get involved, and follow Tony’s lead by swapping their car or van for a more sustainable option.
For this year’s Better Transport Week, Campaign for Better Transport is shining a light on the unexpected transport heroes doing their bit to be more sustainable and celebrating the impact they are having on local communities up and down the country.
Tony’s journey into sustainable transport began after moving from London to Ulverston in the South Lakes and experiencing the stark differences in public transport accessibility.
He has worked to improve transport inclusivity, joined the Northern Accessibility User Group and co-produced their mobility scooter permit scheme, which has enabled over 2,000 scooter users to travel on Northern trains for the first time, with necessary permits.
He advocates for level train access between the platform and train enabling wheelchair and mobility scooter users to travel independently. Locally, Tony conducts walkabouts with local authorities to improve accessibility and access on key routes.
Tony said to get off the train at Windermere station, cross the road and reach the summit of Orrest Head is 'incredible'.
"Prior to scooter users being able to use trains, we would have to use the car for everything," he said.
"Not everybody can afford a car. I like a green agenda and I want to be a part of that and make that happen. This is one more way of making it inclusive for disabled people so that they have the opportunity to travel by train and bus and do not have to use cars for everything.
"If transport is not accessible, you do not have step-free stations or passenger assistance disabled people feel they have to use cars. I am trying to work hard to make passenger assistance more reliable, and make stations and trains more accessible so that we can have a more inclusive and sustainable means of transport."
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