The campaign aims to help people stay upright on buses and the anticipated smart ticketing scheme will be introduced to buses in 2015
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has started a new drive to keep vulnerable people safe and secure when using public transport.
The ‘Go Steady’ campaign is launching during ‘Falls Awareness Week’ (June 17-21) which asks people to put their ‘best foot forward’ by staying upright and secure.
A key element of ‘Go Steady’ is a website which offers advice on avoiding falls during boarding, while on and getting off public transport. The website provides advice for anyone vulnerable to falls and is a useful resource for carers.
Leaflets and posters will also be distributed in Greater Manchester to raise awareness of the initiative. TfGM is contacting health bodies and local authorities to tell them about the advice available.
Cllr Andrew Fender, Chairman of the TfGM Committee, said: “The timing of ‘Go Steady’ is also important as Age UK’s National Falls Awareness Week takes place during the launch of our campaign. The week aims to help older people stay safe while going about their lives. Travel plays a big part in how we go about our daily business.”
TfGM has also recently approved the name for Greater Manchester’s new smart ticketing system as ‘get me there’. The system is due to be introduced in stages in 2014.
Cllr Fender said: “There will be a dedicated card called ‘my get me there’ for the scheme, but people with an existing TfGM-issued concessionary photo card, such as an igo or a national concessionary scheme card, will be able to use these cards instead.
“Get me there will also accept contactless bank cards when we roll out the scheme on Metrolink and, in the near future, we expect that people will be able to use their smart phones as well.”
The installation of get me there validators on Metrolink stops is due to start later this year.
“We’re introducing get me there on Metrolink first to make sure we get all the basics working right before extending it to bus operators,” explained Cllr Fender.
“We are still working out detail around the timescales but Metrolink passengers can expect to be using get me there in the second half of 2014, bus passengers in 2015 and rail thereafter.”
For more on Falls Awareness Week visit https://tinyurl.com/dx8ygyf or for the ‘get me there’ scheme visit www.getmethere.com
