We carry out research and evaluation to better understand disabled people's experience of using transport.
And we use these insights to create practical innovations that make transport more accessible. Read our reports to learn more.
Published: November 2024
Wheelchair provision: how to drive effective change report
We awarded a User Research Grant (URG) to the Wheelchair Alliance to carry out research into what would improve wheelchair provision in England.
Their research follows on from two previous reports conducted by the Wheelchair Alliance, which we funded through our URG.
The first report, published in September 2022, provided evidence and data on the scale of current issues in wheelchair provision, highlighting particular areas of concern.
The second report, published in December 2023, looked at the value of a wheelchair and found that the provision of high-quality wheelchairs can not only have a significant beneficial impact on disabled people’s lives but also lead to financial benefits for the NHS and society.
This report has provided the actions that the Wheelchair Alliance believes should be implemented to ensure the effective commissioning of wheelchair services that benefit wheelchair users, wheelchair service providers and funders. To inform these recommendations the Wheelchair Alliance carried out both qualitative engagement with wheelchair users and other stakeholders, quantitative analysis of primary and secondary data and an evidence review.
As well as providing some priority recommendations to improve wheelchair provision the report also sets out suggestions on the next steps and how the Wheelchair Alliance could support the delivery of these actions.
Published: November 2024
Accessibility review of the Public Transport Access Level (PTAL) index report
We awarded a User Research Grant to Transport for All, a charity and campaign group that aims to break down barriers and transform the transport system so that disabled people can make the journeys they choose.
Transport for All carried out an accessibility review of the PTAL, which is a measure of access, used for the public transport network in London.
PTAL is a calculation based on a series of inputs including walking distance to the nearest station or stops, waiting times and distance to major rail stations. These are then combined to give a summary rating that ranges from very poor to excellent. The PTAL does not consider the accessibility of transport services to disabled users.
Transport for All’s research explored the possibility of developing a new measurement of access that would be more meaningful for disabled users and for those planning transport services with their needs in mind. Working with disabled people, they identified three key issues that can be addressed to measure a location’s accessibility – crowding, step-free access and toilets.
Transport for All is recommending further research and engagement with disabled people in this area to improve the accessibility of planning systems.
Published: August 2024
Bus Users why are we waiting? Disabled people’s experiences of travelling by bus report.
Bus Users why are we waiting? Disabled people’s experiences of travelling by bus large print report,
We awarded a user research grant to Bus Users UK, a charity which campaigns for the rights of bus users, to carry out research into the lived experience of disabled bus passengers.
The research sets out to understand the main challenges faced by different groups of disabled passengers throughout their journeys, the needs of disabled people in using the bus network, and what opportunities exist for service improvement to better meet the needs of a wide range of disabled passengers.
The research used a mixed-method approach to get an in-depth and holistic understanding of the experiences of 32 disabled passengers. The methods involved observation of, and interviews with, participants as well as self-reporting, encouraging participants to capture their own reflections on their journeys and bus use. The research also used quantitative analysis based on existing data from the National Travel Survey and the Department for Transport’s Bus Statistics.
Bus Users UK has made a series of recommendations in the report, emphasising the need for collaboration between Government, transport industry stakeholders, local authorities and disabled people.
Published: April 2024
Visionary travel matters summary report
Visionary travel matters report case studies
We awarded a user research grant to Visionary, a membership organisation for sight loss charities, to carry out research into how the experience of public transport could be improved for people with visual impairments.
The aim of this research was to develop clear recommendations and tools that charities can use to provide effective support for people with visual impairments when using public transport. The specific aims of the project were to build on existing knowledge of challenges and understand them in greater depth; to explore the impact of poor access to public transport on the wider lives of people experiencing sight loss; and to identify opportunities for supporting people with visual impairments.
The lived experience of people with visual impairments was crucial to this research and included in-depth interviews and shadowed journeys on public transport to provide a greater understanding of the challenges that people with visual impairments face. Interviews were also conducted with stakeholders working in public transport.
The report provides a series of recommendations for charities to provide greater support to people with visual impairments, centred on three main areas – building confidence, having reasons to travel and engaging stakeholders.
Published: November 2023
Mental Health Foundation, Public Mental Health and Transport report
We awarded a user research grant to The Mental Health Foundation to carry out research into the challenges people living with mental health conditions face with public transport.
The research was delivered in three strands, exploring challenges and opportunities for people with a psychiatric diagnoses, people living with dementia and mothers of babies and young children. Each of these strands was led by people with lived experience.
One of the overarching conclusions reached by this research is that the complexity of different people’s needs on public transport can compete with each other. This emphasises the need for personalised forms of supported access to transport.
The report highlights recommendations for personal strategies to improve travel on public transport. It also offers recommendations for local and national government, travel companies and health and social care services. These include co-designed training for transport staff and providing peer support to help people re-engage with public transport.
Published: December 2023
We awarded a user research grant to The Wheelchair Alliance to carry out research into the value of a wheelchair.
The research was undertaken on behalf of The Wheelchair Alliance by two independent research organisations – Frontier Economics and Revealing Reality.
This research follows on the Wheelchair Alliance’s first report, which we partnered with them to publish in September 2022.
The value of a wheelchair report considered both quantitative data and in-depth interviews with wheelchair users across England.
The research found that the provision of high quality wheelchairs can not only have a significant beneficial impact on disabled people’s lives but also lead to financial benefits for the NHS and society.
The report highlights three policy changes that would make a significant difference to wheelchair provision, and details the actions The Wheelchair Alliance will take to deliver these.
Published: April 2023
Energy Saving Trust, electric vehicle design and disability inclusion report
We commissioned the Energy Saving Trust to conduct research looking into the barriers to accessible electric vehicle design for disabled consumers, with a spotlight on Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) users.
As part of this research they carried out surveys and interviews with disabled people, vehicle manufactuters and the conversion and adaptation industry.
The results of the research and a series of proposed solutions and recommendations are included in this report.
Published: April 2023
Inclusive Journeys, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) report
We funded research, carried out by the RNIB, which aimed to identify the unique challenges of journeys made by people with sight loss.
To do this, RNIB explored the experiences of blind and partially sighted people when using public transport.
They examined the barriers they face, the solutions they employ and the emotional impact of these activities.
Utilising the experiences of blind and partially sighted people, the report provides a checklist for travel providers to help them make their services more accessible for people with sight loss.
The results of the research and the recommendations can be found in this report.
Published: February 2023
Disabled citizens inquiry report
We funded research conducted by a walking and cycling charity Sustrans, into the experience of disabled people when moving around their communities.
The final report is the culmination of a six month inquiry, including a survey of over 1,100 disabled people.
The report highlights some of the barriers that disabled people regularly face on their walking and wheeling journeys.
It recommends that more action is taken to improve the accessibility of pavements and to ensure disabled people can be within walking or wheeling distance of services and amenities.
Published: January 2023
Driving Change Exec Summary (Leonard Cheshire)
We funded research carried out by disability charity Leonard Cheshire to understand how taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) travel can be made accessible for disabled people. The research included a survey of over 2,000 disabled people and focus groups with disabled people, taxi drivers, private hire vehicle drivers, licensing authorities and disabled persons organisations. Six main recommendations have been made which can be found in this report and executive summary.
Published: November 2022
The impact of Covid-19 on disabled people's experience of travel
We worked with BritainThinks to research how experiences of travel and transport have changed for disabled people since the Covid-19 pandemic began and what this might mean for access to transport in the future.
Published: September 2022
Inclusive travel: Motability Foundation’s learning and innovation
A summary of what we have learned about disabled people’s access to transport, and what Motability Foundation is currently doing to improve access.
Published: September 2022
An economic assessment of wheelchair provision in England
Accessible Easy Read Version of An economic assessment of wheelchair provision in England
Motability Foundation partnered with the Wheelchair Alliance to support this new study into wheelchair provision in England which aims to provide robust evidence and data on the scale of current issues in wheelchair provision, potential beneficial interventions and to highlight best practices.
Published: March 2022
Transport Accessibility Gap Report
The opportunity to improve the accessibility of transport for disabled people.
If you would like this report in an alternative format such as Easy Read please contact the Innovation Team via email at innovation@motability.org.uk.
Published: December 2021
Economic Impact Of The Motability Scheme Report
Oxford Economics Report on the Economic Impact Of The Motability Scheme.
Published: September 2021
Impact Report
Accessible Impact Report
Motability Foundation’s first Impact Report detailing the impact our work has had on the lives of around 4,000 disabled people who took part in the research process.
Published: August 2021
User Engagement Report. Accessible EV Charging (Designability).
User Engagement work carried out by Designability to understand in detail from disabled users and the people close to them, the future accessibility of electric vehicle charging.
Published: March 2021
Scoping and Discovery Report. EV Charging (Designability).
A report detailing the scoping and discovery work carried out in preparation for the user engagement phase of Motability’s accessible EV charging project.
Published: September 2020
A mixed-methods study examining the accessibility challenges disabled people are expected to face with existing EV charging infrastructure; the scale of these issues; and how they might be solved.
Published: July 2020
Secondary Analysis of the National Travel Survey (NTS) 2018 (NatCen).
A large-scale quantitative analysis with over 250 data tables describing in granular detail the transport habits and behaviours of people living with disabilities.
Published: July 2020
User Research: Transport needs for disabled people (BritainThinks).
A mixed-methods study directly with disabled people exploring their transport experiences, challenges, and needs.
Published: July 2020
A presentation summarising key findings from the three previous pieces of research.
Published: June 2020
Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA): Disability and transport needs, gaps and innovation (NatCen).
A study of existing evidence on disability and transport, including research gaps and pockets of innovation.
Motability Foundation also sponsored a piece of user research on the same topic from the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC).