Inclusive Travel SaaS Product

Award outcome

Description

For many people, buses represent the most affordable and accessible mode of transport. Those on low or fixed incomes depend on them to access health, education and employment. But for some, there are barriers which make it more difficult to use public transport. These barriers can be physical (for example infrastructure) and access to information (for example timetables or journey planning information). For some groups, such barriers can reduce their travel horizons and lead them to spend more on alternative modes such as a taxi. One such group are the more than two million people living with sight loss in the UK. This number is estimated to double to 4 million people in the next 25 years by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB); with one person every six minutes starting to lose their sight. In this context, and with disabled people reporting up to three times more difficulties when travelling than non-disabled people, the Council has a need to make travel in Essex simpler, more inclusive and accessible for all. With the barriers for disabled people and those with sight loss clearly established in terms of travel, and the importance of digital technology in assisting to remove these barriers, the Council intends to source and implement a new digital tool across its bus infrastructure estate initially. The product will enable visually impaired people to be completely independent in the use of public transport, by means of an accessible digital solution, which enables the user to orient themselves in an unfamiliar environment and obtain accessible, contextualised information. It is proposed this will be via their smartphone device. ECC intend to utilise the Crown Commercial Services Spark Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) RM6094 framework with the intention of procuring through this in early February 2026. To become a supplier on this commercial agreement please use the link below for more details. https://supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/organisation/register

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