Letter to Transport for London about Dial-a-Ride eligibility

The Transport Committee wrote to Transport for London (TfL) to query whether it is fair to give disability groups only three weeks to respond to a consultation on imminent changes to the way eligibility to use Dial-a-Ride is assessed.

TfL’s proposed “virtual assessments” will change the way eligibility is established for people who do not meet the automatic eligibility criteria for Dial-a-Ride services. The consultation document asks for responses by 15 April and states that TfL expects the “changes to the Dial-a-Ride application process to start in April 2011”.

The Committee's letter queries the short consultation period and requests details about the decision to outsource eligibility assessments and whether any other consultation has been undertaken with people who use the service.

TfL replied on 5 April, stating that in light of the Committee's concerns they will extend the planned implementation date to give people more time to respond to the consultation. Read TfL's letter in full below.

The Transport Committee has conducted detailed work on the transport services provided to disabled Londoners, and the service provided by Dial-a-Ride in particular. See our previous reports:

Accessibility of the transport network in London (Nov 2010)

Door-to-door transport services (June 2010)

Letter to the Mayor about Dial-a-Ride’s performance (May 2009)