In 2012, we delivered, as lead partner, the London 2012 Accessible Shuttles project on behalf of the Olympic Delivery Authority. This large-scale, complex project was recognised as one of the outstanding transport successes of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and positioned accessible transport at the heart of future Olympic planning.
ECT Charity provided the lead planning and delivery role bringing together 24 individual community transport organisations to deliver the world-class accessible transport service, operating no less the 48 routes. The value and success of the project can be demonstrated by considering the number of passengers with mobility impairments who used the Accessible Shuttles during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Some 100,000 passenger journeys were made (60,000 during the Olympics and 40,000 during the Paralympics) on a fleet of nearly 150 vehicles operated by 550 drivers and 200 specially trained support staff.
It has been acknowledged that London 2012 was the most inclusive and accessible Games in Olympic history. This was the largest operation of its kind ever attempted and its success has left a lasting legacy. The success of this project not only placed the provision of accessible transport high on the agenda of transport providers, but also provided a platform from which ECT Charity was able to demonstrate the professionalism and capacity of the community transport sector as a whole, and specifically of ECT Charity as a leader of that sector.
ECT Charity marked the one year anniversary of the London Olympics and Paralympics with a special report celebrating its gold-standard performance providing ‘Accessible Shuttles’ that helped spectators with disabilities attend Olympic and Paralympic venues during London 2012.
The report, was presented to Mayor Boris Johnson, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and the then transport minister Norman Baker. Mayor Boris called the team the ‘unsung heroes’ of London 2012 and said: “I hope that across London and elsewhere in the UK, such services will in future always be provided to this standard – this will be a fitting and important legacy to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
