Kinetic is continuing to make its services more accessible through a recent move in Melbourne
Kinetic says it is helping people of all abilities feel more confident when using public transport, recently taking part in the Try Before You Ride initiative in Melbourne.
Kinetic joined other transport operators and Travellers Aid Australia to partner with Victoria’s Department of Transport in the delivery of the accessibility event which allows people with disabilities and mobility impairments to practice using different modes of public transport in a relaxed environment.
Kinetic has operated a third of Melbourne’s public bus network since January 2022. With 50 bus routes, the network moves more than 27 million Victorians every year.
Kinetic Melbourne General Manager Graham Smith says bus services play a vital role in helping people of all abilities live full and rich lives.
“Across Melbourne, our bus services play an important role connecting people to jobs, education and to the things they love to do,” Smith says.
“By working with people to build their confidence to travel with us, we are supporting them to lead independent lives and be connected to their communities.”
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The event featured one of the brand-new battery electric buses (BEB) Kinetic has introduced to Melbourne’s bus network this year, with a driver and two Customer Service Officers (CSOs) on hand to help attendees familiarise themselves with getting on and off the vehicle.
“Our team met a range of people throughout the day to discuss accessibility features on board our buses and answer questions about ticketing and travelling on the network,” Smith says.
Around Australia, Kinetic is changing the way people think about bus travel through delivering safer, more reliable and more sustainable passenger journeys.
- Kinetic is supporting the delivery of smart ticketing in Queensland and Translink’s roll out of Braille, tactile and QR codes at bus stops.
- In Victoria, Kinetic has formed an Accessibility Reference Group made up of community members with lived experience of disability who provide feedback on services.
- Kinetic has also successfully introduced CSOs across bus networks in Queensland and Melbourne to provide a friendly and familiar face for public transport users.
- This month Kinetic is also providing athlete transport for the Special Olympics in Launceston which provides opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to form friendship and achieve through sport.